In a tragic turn for one of the unsung heroes of the Bondi Beach Hanukkah terror attack, 30-year-old Israeli expat Gefen Bitton – known as the “man in the red shirt” – is fighting for his life with devastating long-term consequences. What began as an act of extraordinary bravery has left him critically injured, with doctors warning his family that the damage from multiple gunshot wounds may be irreversible.

The attack unfolded during a public Chanukah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, where families gathered to light the menorah. Armed father-and-son duo allegedly opened fire on the crowd, claiming multiple lives in a shocking act of violence. While panic ensued and most fled for safety, Bitton did the unthinkable: after initially escaping with a friend, he turned back and sprinted toward the danger.

Viral footage captured the moment Bitton, wearing a distinctive red shirt, rushed alongside another bystander to confront one of the attackers. He assisted in the frantic effort to disarm the gunman, buying precious seconds for others to escape. But the cost was immense – Bitton was shot three times at close range with a shotgun, sustaining severe injuries including a shattered pelvis and extensive internal damage.

In the chaos, Bitton managed to make a brief, chilling phone call to his sister in Israel, informing her he had been shot before collapsing and losing consciousness. Friends and family, frantic with worry, used phone tracking to locate him at St Vincent’s Hospital, where he was already in emergency surgery.

Since then, Bitton has undergone at least four – and possibly more – intensive surgeries to address life-threatening wounds. He remains in the ICU, often in a medically induced coma, on ventilation, and unresponsive. Medical teams have delivered a heartbreaking prognosis to his family: the extensive trauma, particularly to his pelvic region and surrounding areas, has caused permanent damage. Recovery, if possible, will be a long and arduous road involving rehabilitation, ongoing medical care, and significant lifestyle changes.

Bitton, who had been living peacefully in Australia for three years working as a garage door technician, had spent the day hiking in the Blue Mountains before attending the event. Friends describe him as a kind, spiritual person guided by deep values, whose instinctive heroism reflected the best of human courage in the face of terror.

A GoFundMe campaign launched by close friends has raised substantial support for his mounting medical bills and future needs, highlighting the global outpouring of admiration for his selflessness. His father rushed from Israel to be by his bedside, joining a vigil that underscores the personal toll of such violence.

Bitton’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost behind acts of bravery. While one hero helped neutralize the immediate threat, the “red shirt” man paid a price that no one anticipated. As he continues his fight in the ICU, the world watches, hoping for miracles amid the grim reality doctors have outlined.