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A brave French national who threw a bollard at the Sydney stabber will be granted Australian citizenship.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised Damien Guerot, dubbed ‘Bollard Man’, the right to remain in after a video of him confronting the attacker went viral.
Mr Guerot could be seen holding a bollard on the escalator to prevent Sydney stabber Joel Cauchi from reaching a children’s play area in Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre.
In a press conference, Mr Albanese was asked about his visa, to which he said: ‘I say this to Damien Guerot, who is dealing with his visa applications, that you are welcome here. You are welcome to stay for as long as you like.
‘This is someone who we would welcome becoming an Australian citizen, although that would of course be a loss for France.
‘We thank him for his extraordinary bravery. It says a lot about the nature of humanity.
Damien Guerot threw a bollard at the knifeman (Picture: LinkedIn)
In a press conference, PM Albanese praised the Frenchman’s heroic actions (Picture: ABC)
Damien could be seen throwing the bollard down at Cauchi (Picture: X)
‘I think that on Saturday we saw some of the best of human character at the same time as we saw such devastating tragedy and I thank Damien for his extraordinary efforts.’
Mr Guerot recalled his heroic intervention, which unfolded as he was heading to the gym with a fellow Frenchman.
He said: ‘We saw him going down so we followed him from the top. We tried to maybe throw the bollard to him but we couldn’t.
‘We didn’t think. You cannot think in that moment. His eyes were like empty eyes… he wasn’t there.’
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Cauchi killed six people before he was shot dead inside the Sydney shopping centre – one seriously injured victim was a nine month old baby, who’s mother died trying to save her.
Emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre at about 3.30pm on Saturday.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the busy complex located less than two miles west of Bondi Beach.
Mr Albanese praised the emergency workers, doctors, nurses and ‘everyday Australians’ who helped the victims after the ‘horrific act of violence.’
The PM expressed his ‘deepest condolences and sympathies’ to the families of victims and anyone affected.
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