Dramatic new footage has revealed the identities and final, heroic actions of a married couple who lost their lives attempting to stop a gunman during the Bondi beach terror attack on Sunday.
A Courageous Confrontation Caught on Camera
The couple have been named as Boris Gurman, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61. Their family confirmed their identities in a moving statement to the Sydney Morning Herald, expressing their heartbreak over the "sudden and senseless loss." The pair had been married for 34 years and were approaching their 35th wedding anniversary in January.
Dashcam footage, posted to the social media platform Rednote, captures the pivotal moment Boris Gurman, wearing a purple shirt, tackled the shooter, Sajid Akram, on Campbell Parade. Akram had just emerged from a car displaying an Islamic State flag. In the video, Boris is seen pushing Akram onto the road and wrestling a firearm from his hands, with Sofia actively involved in the confrontation.
The Sydney resident who shared the footage wrote in Mandarin: "Such civilian heroes shouldn’t be forgotten. I’m truly heartbroken." Separate drone footage from after the altercation shows the couple lying motionless together on the footpath.
Lives of Kindness and a Legacy of Bravery
In their statement, the Gurman family painted a picture of a devoted and hardworking couple. Boris was a retired mechanic known for his quiet strength and generosity, while Sofia worked at Australia Post and was deeply loved by her colleagues. "Bondi locals, together they lived honest, hardworking lives and treated everyone they met with kindness, warmth and respect," the family said.
The family also addressed the emerging evidence of their courage. "In recent days, we have become aware of footage showing Boris, with Sofia by his side, courageously attempting to disarm an attacker in an effort to protect others," they stated. "While nothing can lessen the pain... we feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness. This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were – people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others."
A Community in Mourning and a Wider Toll
The Gurmans are among the 15 victims killed in the attack, the worst mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. Most victims were attending a Hanukkah celebration when the shooting began. A further 38 people were wounded, with 24, including two police officers, still in hospital as of Tuesday afternoon.
On Tuesday, six of Sofia's colleagues from Australia Post visited Bondi Pavilion to pay tribute, arriving in uniform to lay white roses and a card. One colleague said, "It’s very tragic and seeing this video made us realise just how brave she and her husband was."
Other bystanders have also been hailed for their interventions. Ahmed al-Ahmed, who was thanked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, remains in a critical but stable condition in St George hospital after being shot four to five times while disarming Akram. The daughter of victim Reuven Morrison identified her father as the man seen throwing an object at the gunman in footage, stating he "went down fighting."
The alleged attacker, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police. The investigation into the Bondi beach terror attack continues as a city and a nation mourn the loss of lives, including those of two ordinary people who displayed extraordinary courage.
