Bondi Westfield stabbings: ‘Bollard Man’ revealed

The heroic men who confronted Bondi Westfield killer Joel Cauchi with bollards have been identified as two Frenchmen on the way to the gym.

The heroic men who grabbed bollards and confronted the Bondi Junction mass killer have been revealed as two Frenchmen, Damien Guerot and Silas Despreaux.

Mr Guerot, who has been dubbed “Bollard Man” by thousands of grateful people on social media, grabbed the metal post inside the shopping centre and confronted killer Joel Cauchi, 40, as he made his way up an escalator.

His friend Silas Despreaux, a French tradie from Randwick, was alongside him, with both men visiting Bondi Westfield to go to the gym.

When they realised Cauchi was on a killing spree they sprung into action.

Incredible vision captured during the terrifying mass murder shows a brave but determined Mr Guerot hold out the bollard in front of him and stop the madman from getting to an area where dozens of children were playing on the first day of school holidays.

Bollard Man stopped the attacker from accessing children’s play area. Picture: 9 News

Mr Despreaux also grabbed a bollard and confronted the killer at another time during the attack.

It’s understood Mr Guerot and Mr Despreaux were also the pair who led heroic NSW Police officer Amy Scott to the killer’s location, where she then took him down.

Friends of the pair told The Daily Telegraph they were holding up OK in the aftermath of the tragedy, and didn’t think of themselves as heroes.

Damien Guerot.

Silas Despreaux.

Mr Despreaux’s friend said: “He’s OK, just shaken.

“He says he is no hero, he is just an ordinary guy...he isn’t able to talk about it much.”

The men have been praised for their bravery in comments online, along with NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott who ran into the face of danger and took down the killer.

“What a hero. You deserve a medal for your courage and bravery,” Donna Hooper posted on the video of Mr Guerot.

“Mate, you are a legend,” Macro Onofri said.

Silas Despreaux is from the Ukraine.

He was hailed a hero and legend for his actions at Bondi Junction Westfield.

Other comments included “What a legend. This man saved many, many lives. From everyone, thank you”.

Premier Chris Minns made mention of Mr Despreaux and Mr Guerot’s actions on Sunday morning.

“It has been incredible to see complete strangers jump in, run towards the danger, put their own lives in harm’s way to save someone that they’ve never met before,” Mr Minns said.

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Originally published as Bondi Westfield stabbings: ‘Bollard Man’ revealed