Courage remembered as Ashes players honour first responders and civilians

This morning, players from Australia and England formed a guard of honour at the Sydney Cricket Ground to pay tribute to first responders, volunteers and civilians who helped save lives during the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Before the opening ball of the Ashes Test, survivors, emergency workers and community responders walked onto the field as both teams stood shoulder to shoulder and the crowd rose in sustained applause. The tribute briefly set aside one of sport’s fiercest rivalries to recognise courage shown during the attack on a Chanukah gathering at Bondi Beach exactly three weeks ago, on 14 December, which killed 15 people and injured dozens more.

Emergency services represented on the field included NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, NSW Health, Surf Life Saving NSW and local council lifeguards, along with intensive care paramedics and hospital staff from several Sydney hospitals. Lifesavers and lifeguards provided trauma care on the sand, while off-duty doctors and nurses attending the event assisted with emergency treatment in the critical early minutes.

Community-based responders were also formally recognised. Members of the Community Security Group NSW (CSG) were already deployed at the Chanukah event and moved immediately to evacuate families, establish safer areas and relay information to police as gunfire erupted. Several CSG volunteers were injured while assisting others and attempting to secure the area but continued helping until police took full control of the scene. Also recognised was Community Health Support (CHS)’s Naomi Or, representing the 20 emergency medical responders who were on scene in minutes that evening.

Volunteer medics from Hatzolah Australia were among the first medically trained responders on site. Operating under established emergency protocols, Hatzolah volunteers provided bleeding control, triage and urgent care to injured civilians and responders before and alongside NSW Ambulance crews.

Among the civilians honoured was Ahmed Al Ahmed, who confronted one of the attackers and helped others escape. As he passed through the guard of honour, the sold-out stadium rose to its feet in a prolonged standing ovation.

He was joined by Chaya Dadon, aged 14, who was shot in the leg while shielding two young children during the attack. Dadon attended the SCG on crutches and was met with sustained applause as she walked alongside other survivors and responders.

The names of the 15 people killed were displayed on the SCG big screens beneath the words “forever in our hearts”, ensuring the tribute acknowledged victims as well as those who helped in the aftermath.

Cricket Australia said the on-field tribute was intended to recognise both professional responders and ordinary Australians whose actions in the opening moments helped save lives and allowed emergency services to operate more effectively once deployed.

Security at the SCG was visibly increased for the match, with mounted police, public order officers and armed patrols positioned in and around the ground. Authorities said the high-visibility presence was precautionary and aimed at reassuring fans.

As play got underway, players from both teams resumed competition, but the moment served as a collective acknowledgement of loss, courage and the actions of those who ran towards danger to protect others on one of the darkest days in Australia’s recent history.