'Best of our character': heroes save lives in shooting

While terror reigned on Australia's most famous beach, local heroes stepped up by putting themselves in harm's way to protect innocent strangers.

In an act of stunning courage, a fruit shop owner from Sydney's south wrestled and disarmed one of the gunmen who opened fire at a crowd at Bondi Beach on Sunday night and left more than a dozen people dead.

At the same time, a group of surf lifesavers celebrating at their Christmas parties opened up their doors and first aid kits to help those caught in the crossfire.

Ahmed Al Ahmed, a 43-year-old father-of-two from the Sutherland region, ripped a long-armed weapon from the hands of one gunman before the passerby was injured by two shots from the second attacker.

His cousin Mustafa Al-Asaad said Mr Al Ahmed was shot in his left shoulder and hand.

He recounted his cousin, an Australian citizen who originally hailed from Syria, telling him that "God granted me courage to jump on the gunman".

"He wasn't thinking of death when he saw bullets flying in the air," Mr Al Asaad told BBC Arabic overnight.

An online fundraiser to recognise the small business owner for his bravery had raised more than $270,000 by late Monday morning.

Surf lifesavers at Bondi and North Bondi were in their clubhouses celebrating Christmas when the gunfire erupted outside.

Multiple volunteers ran out under fire to perform CPR and provide first aid, Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said.

"Surf Life Saving is a front line emergency service and that was never more important than last night," he told AAP.

"There is not a bandage or a Band-Aid left in any of the surf clubs, all the boards were used as stretchers."

The North Bondi clubhouse had about 200 people sheltering inside and receiving medical attention while the police operation continued, president Steven Lanarch said.

At least 16 people died and many more were left injured after the gunmen took aim at a crowd gathered for a Hanukkah celebration at the beach just before 7pm on Sunday.

One of the gunmen, Naveed Akram, 24, is in police custody while the other, his 50-year-old father Sajid, was killed.

Multiple videos posted to social media show the two gunmen standing on a footbridge connecting Campbell Parade to the Bondi Pavilion and firing shots into a crowd.

Footage shows Mr Al Ahmed crouching behind a vehicle in the nearby carpark, before sneaking up behind a gunman and wrestling the weapon from his grip.

The altercation sent the shooter staggering to the ground, before he got up and walked towards the pedestrian bridge from which the other gunman continued to fire.

Leaders hailed the heroes who ran toward danger to stop the attack or help the injured.

"To the brave first responders, including ordinary citizens who acted yesterday - thank you for what you do," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

"People rushing towards danger to show the best of the Australian character."

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