From Heroic Rescue to a New Beginning: Hyderabad Man Honoured by Australia
HYDERABAD: While the December 2025 mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach brought global attention to Hyderabad after a father and son from the city were named among the key accused, another Hyderabadi emerged as one of the tragedy’s unsung heroes, As reported by TOI.
Cab driver Rehmat Pasha, 37, from Mehdipatnam, risked his life to rescue victims during the attack, helping save an estimated 18 to 20 lives. In recognition of his courage, the Australian government granted him permanent residency. His wife and three children are expected to join him in Australia soon.
Australian authorities will also preserve the cap Pasha wore during the rescue operation at the Sydney Museum. They have nominated him for multiple bravery awards for his actions.
Six minutes of terror changed his life forever
Pasha, who recently returned to Hyderabad to visit his family, said the events of December 14, 2025, continue to haunt him despite the recognition.
“People say my life has changed for the better. But images from that day still haunt me,” Pasha told The Times of India, breaking down several times during the interaction.
He moved to Australia in 2021 after completing a hospitality course and worked as a cab driver while supporting his family in India.
On the evening of the attack, Bondi Beach was crowded as members of Sydney’s Jewish community gathered to celebrate Hanukkah. At around 6.30 pm local time, Pasha had just dropped off a passenger and was preparing to leave when he heard loud bangs.
“My passenger had just opened the boot to take his luggage when he suddenly ran. I stepped out and heard gunshots. At first, I thought they were fireworks. Then I saw two gunmen firing from a bridge about 100 metres away,” he said.
Split-second decision to help the injured
Rather than flee, Pasha ran towards the victims.
He first tried to save a man who had suffered a gunshot wound to the neck, pressing his hands against the injury to stop the bleeding.
“But all my efforts were futile. He died in my hands,” Pasha said.
Realising others still needed help, Pasha began pulling injured people behind trees, benches and beach structures to shield them from the attackers.
He kept taking cover while moving victims to safety.
“The attackers were moving forward, so I had to move people before they reached where we were hiding,” he said.
The shooting lasted only six to eight minutes, but Pasha said it felt much longer.
“Blood was everywhere. People were running and screaming. Children were crying and searching for their parents. I saw the grass turning red,” he recalled.
Among those he comforted was an 85-year-old woman who had suffered gunshot wounds to both legs.
“She asked me, ‘What wrong did I do, son? I was only sitting on the bench humming a song,'” Pasha said.
Trying to reassure her, he replied: “Don’t worry. Next year you will come back for Hanukkah, sit on this same bench and hum the same song again.”
Three-hour rescue effort
After paramedics arrived, Pasha spent nearly three hours helping medical teams carry the injured from the beach to waiting ambulances.
He also helped injured police officers and rescued young rabbi Leibel Lazeroff, who had suffered two gunshot wounds below the waist. Rescue teams used surfboards as makeshift stretchers while emergency treatment continued on the beach.
The emotional impact overwhelmed him only after the rescue operation ended.
Doctors later diagnosed him with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and advised him not to work temporarily.
“I still wake up after three or four hours. I hear ambulance sirens in my dreams. I see people running in blood-soaked clothes. I hear children crying,” he said.
Recognition from Australia
The Australian government provided Pasha with financial assistance, counselling and medical treatment.
During his recovery, he met Hyderabad-born immigration lawyer Abdul Syed Javeed, founder of the Indian Youth Committee of Australia, who recommended his name to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs for permanent residency.
“What he did is beyond courage and recognition,” Javeed said.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke later called Pasha to inform him that officials had approved his permanent residency application. Authorities are now processing applications for his wife and children.
The government has also nominated Pasha for a national bravery award. Uber, for whom he was driving at the time, recognised his actions, and several organisations have offered him jobs. However, he said he will decide on his future only after making further progress in his recovery.
He remains in regular contact with survivors and their families.
“They invite me to prayer meetings, call to check on me and meet me whenever they can. Every time I meet them, some cry, some bless me and some hug me,” he said.
Looking back, Pasha often wonders whether he could have saved even more people. At the same time, he says those few minutes changed his life forever.
