Jacob Barnfield had gone to Bondi Beach for the most ordinary of reasons — a swim on a warm Sunday afternoon.
Australia’s most recognisable stretch of sand was packed, buzzing with families and friends gathering for Chanukah by the Sea, marking the first night of Hanukkah.
Then the sounds began. Sharp, loud cracks echoed across the beach, and in an instant, the atmosphere flipped from festive to terrifying.
At first, Barnfield admits he thought it might be fireworks.
That assumption lasted only seconds. Screams cut through the noise.
People started running. And suddenly, it was clear something was terribly wrong.
When Celebration Turned Into Horror
The gunfire, police allege, came from Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50.
Fifteen people were killed. More than 40 others were rushed to hospital.
Hundreds who had gathered for the event scattered in panic, trying to escape the open beach with nowhere obvious to hide.
Horrifying scenes unfolded near a pedestrian footbridge, where the alleged shooters were positioned.
Video later captured the moment as shots were fired repeatedly while crowds fled in every direction.
Running Towards Danger
While most people ran away, Barnfield made a split-second decision to do the opposite.
He moved toward the gunfire, weaving through terrified bystanders.
His aim, he says, was simple — get close enough to stop it.
But each step forward revealed something worse.
As he later told Sunrise host Nat Barr, the closer he got, the more confronting the scene became. Bodies lay on the ground.
Pieces of clothing and debris were scattered among them. Families were screaming. Children were crying.
“It’s something you don’t forget,” he said, describing the shock of seeing so much devastation up close.
After Police Took Control
Police eventually shot both alleged attackers and restrained them on the footbridge. Sajid Akram died at the scene.
His son Naveed survived and remains in hospital under armed guard.
In the moments after police intervened, raw emotion spilled over.
Several bystanders rushed toward Naveed as he lay on the ground. Barnfield was among them.
Anger, Adrenaline, and a Split-Second Reaction
Barnfield openly described stomping on Naveed’s head as he lay restrained, calling it an act fuelled by overwhelming anger.
He said the images around him — lifeless bodies, distraught families, children sobbing on the ground — pushed him past the point of restraint.
“I don’t regret it,” he said. “Given the circumstances, it felt deserved.”
Nat Barr told him it was something “every Australian wanted to do.”
Barnfield agreed, acknowledging the moment wasn’t pretty but standing by his reaction.
Police were seen pushing bystanders away as they attempted to revive the alleged gunmen.
The Victims Begin to Be Named
Authorities have confirmed the identities of six of the 15 victims so far.
Among them are a ten-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor, and a 27-year-old French Jewish citizen.
The remaining victims have not yet been publicly identified as families are notified.
The loss has sent shockwaves through communities across Australia and overseas.
Police Clarify Key Details
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon moved quickly to address early confusion, confirming there was no third attacker, despite initial unverified reports suggesting otherwise.
He also revealed Sajid Akram was a licensed firearms owner.
Six firearms registered to him were recovered — some from the Bondi scene and others from a Campsie address searched by police.
Investigators are now working through ballistic and forensic testing to confirm which weapons were used during the attack.
Questions Still Without Answers
Commissioner Lanyon said it is too early to speculate on motive.
He would not confirm whether investigators had found any manifesto or written material linked to the alleged shooters.
“We’re still very early in the investigation,” he said, urging patience as police continue their work.
What Comes Next
As Bondi reels from one of the deadliest attacks in its history, investigators remain focused on piecing together exactly how the tragedy unfolded — and why.
For witnesses like Jacob Barnfield, the memories are already etched in permanently, a reminder of how quickly an ordinary day can turn into something unimaginable.
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