‘God-tier legend’: Dramatic video captures moment man confronts Bondi attacker on escalator

A short but dramatic video taken inside Bondi Junction Westfield has captured the moment a lone man armed with a shopping centre bollard confronted the knife-wielding attacker on an escalator.

The man, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, was described by admirers on social media as “bravery personified”, “an absolute hero”, “a god-tier legend” and deserving of an Order of Australia medal.

The clip showed the man standing at the top of an escalator, holding the bollard up in the air like a projectile, with its heavy base pointed toward the attacker, and moving toward him. Meanwhile, the attacker was moving up the stairs, clutching a knife. But the five-second clip did not show how the confrontation concluded.

The attacker was identified on Sunday as Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old Queensland man who recently moved to NSW.

Bondi Rescue lifeguard Andy Reid was shopping for a bed in Myer as Saturday’s attack unfolded, and attended to a woman who was bleeding on the fourth floor.

Reid later told Nine News: “I just saw the footage of the guy with the bollard, I reckon he’s the real hero here.”

It was among a number of confronting videos and images posted on social media as the horrifying rampage unfolded inside the shopping centre on a busy Saturday afternoon.

In 2019, Jamie Ingram (red tie) knocked Mert Ney to the ground, and Jason Shore held him down using a milk crate.Credit: Nine News

At least six innocent people were killed, authorities said on Saturday evening, and the assailant shot dead by police.

A separate video posted to TikTok showed two people in plain clothes – one of whom was carrying a chair – following a police officer as she ran through the shopping centre.

It was later revealed the officer - an inspector who happened to be nearby at the time - located, confronted and fatally shot the attacker.

The footage of the man on the escalator evoked similar acts of bravery from members of the public during previous tragedies.

During another stabbing rampage in the Sydney CBD in 2019, firefighters and other bystanders managed to pin the attacker – Mert Ney – to the ground using a chair and a milk crate.

In that incident, a fireman, Mitch Bennetts, saw the Clarence Street commotion from his truck, parked, and armed himself with an axe-like tool normally used to break into burning buildings. He and fellow firefighter Gonzalo Herrera then gave chase.

Two of the other bystanders who helped subdue Ney with the chair and milk crate were later identified as Jamie Ingham and Jason Shore. The footage – filmed on phone cameras – was beamed around the world.

In Melbourne in 2018, civilians tried to stop Hassan Khalif Shire Ali as he attacked people with a knife in Bourke Street. One man used an outdoor chair, while another was filmed trying to use a shopping trolley to help police restrain the murderer.

Other video clips posted from Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday showed bodies lying at the entrance to the Chanel store, with people attempting to aid them while the shopping centre’s evacuation alarm sounded in the background.

with Sarah McPhee

If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au) or Beyond Blue on1300 22 4636 (and see beyondblue.org.au).

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