Man and woman who died trying to stop Bondi gunman identified as elderly married couple

SYDNEY: New footage has emerged of a couple appearing to confront one of the gunmen behind the mass shooting at Bondi Beach before they were both shot dead.

The Russian-Jewish couple have been identified by various Australian media outlets as Boris, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61, who lived in Bondi. They have a son in his 30s.

Dashcam video from a passing car showed Boris tackling the 50-year-old shooter, Sajid Akram, as he alighted from a car, armed with a rifle. What appears to be an Islamic State flag is draped over the front windscreen of the vehicle.

Boris was seen trying to force the rifle from Akram's hands as both fell onto the road. The elderly man momentarily had the upper hand as he picked up the rifle.  

The couple then confronted Akram before Boris appeared to fall next to the car.

"An elderly man by the roadside did not run away - instead, he charged straight toward the danger, using all his strength trying to wrestle away the gun and fighting to the death," said dashcam owner Jenny, who shared the footage with Reuters.

“I can see from my camera that the elderly man was ultimately shot and collapsed. That moment broke my heart,” she added.

According to wide-angle footage obtained by Australian news outlet the Sydney Morning Herald, Akram was later able to get back up and turn the weapon on the couple, firing at least two shots.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the couple was seen in drone footage lying together dead on the pavement.

"We are heartbroken by the sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Boris and Sofia Gurman,” the family said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon (Dec 16), as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.

"While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, 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."

Another man, 62-year-old Reuven Morrison, was shot dead after trying to halt the bloodshed, his daughter Sheina Gutnick told American broadcaster CBS News in a report published on Monday.

"He had jumped the second the shooting started. He managed to throw bricks. He was screaming at the terrorist and protecting his community,” she said. 

The mass shooting at Bondi Beach claimed the lives of at least 15 victims, including a 10-year-old girl.

The casualty list would likely have been greater if not for the actions of these bystanders.

Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, a Sydney fruit shop owner, had wrestled a rifle from one of the gunmen by hiding behind parked cars before charging at him from behind, knocking him to the ground.

He is now recovering in the hospital after undergoing surgery for bullet wounds to his arm and hand.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this week praised the actions of Australians who had "run towards danger in order to help others".

"These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives," he told a press conference.