A sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground erupted in a moving and thunderous standing ovation on Sunday, honouring the civilian heroes and emergency responders of the Bondi terror attack ahead of the final Ashes test. The emotional tribute saw Syrian-born father Ahmed al-Ahmed and 14-year-old Chaya Dadon, both injured while confronting gunmen, receive the gratitude of a nation.
A Guard of Honour for Courage
Just before play began on day one of the Fifth Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series, a solemn procession took to the pitch. Ahmed al-Ahmed, his arm in a sling, walked with his hand on his heart, while Chaya Dadon made her way on crutches. They were joined by a group of first responders who rushed to the scene during the ten minutes of terror on 14 December.
The raw emotion on their faces was met with a unified roar from over 40,000 Australian and English cricket fans, all standing in respect. The stadium screens displayed the names of the attack's 15 victims under the poignant message "forever in our hearts."
First Responders Recognised
The tribute honoured the bravery of those who served both on and off duty. The group on the pitch included intensive care paramedics, doctors from Royal Prince Alfred and St Vincent’s hospitals, Bondi surf lifesavers, and local police officers. Australian players, including Alex Carey and Cameron Green, applauded as the heroes passed by the pitch.
"Thank you everybody, thank you for sharing our gratitude for the incredible service that these individuals and many others provided," the ground announcer said, as sustained applause filled the iconic stadium. "We thank you all for your continued care for our community in response to this tragedy."
Handshakes and Official Thanks
Following the playing of both national anthems, al-Ahmed, Dadon, and the responders were formally greeted by New South Wales Sports Minister Steve Kamper and Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg. Retiring Australian batter Usman Khawaja then led his team in shaking hands with each of the honoured guests.
The full list of first responders and community members recognised in the SCG tribute included:
- Brett Simpson & Andrew Bibby, intensive care paramedics, NSW Ambulance
- Cole Shanahan, detective sergeant, & Paul Drinias, senior constable, NSW Police
- Dr Matthew Oliver, co-director of trauma, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
- Dr Rachael Wilkes, emergency registrar, St Vincent’s Hospital
- Leah Trend, Scott Gibbons, Daniel McLaughlin & Jackson Doolan, Bondi surf lifesavers
- Naomi Or, registered nurse, & Vladimir Kotlyar, SES chaplain
- Chaya Dadon & Ahmed al-Ahmed
The powerful moment of collective remembrance and thanks provided a profound start to the sporting contest, uniting the crowd in a shared reflection on community resilience and bravery in the face of tragedy.
