Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has shared the harrowing experience he and his family endured during the Bondi Beach terror attacks.
Speaking from Sydney, Vaughan recounted the chaos that unfolded while he was in the area for an evening out with his wife and daughters.
An Evening Out Turns Into a Nightmare
Vaughan had spent the day watching his son Archie play cricket in Mosman before heading back to Bondi for dinner.
He and his family were on the terrace outside the Royal Bondi pub, just a few hundred yards from where the attacks began around 6:30 pm local time.
“We were having a drink, waiting for Totti’s restaurant to open at 7 pm,” Vaughan told reporters.
“I was standing outside on the patio, scrolling through my phone, when suddenly police cars were everywhere.
At first, I thought maybe it was a shark attack or some fight on the beach.”
Confusion and Fear Amid Gunfire
What started as a confusing scene quickly turned terrifying.
Vaughan initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks.
Bouncers at the pub doors urged everyone inside, warning them to get to safety.
“Everyone was very sombre. No one knew what was happening, but rumors began spreading that attacks were occurring across the city,” he said.
Inside the pub, around 30 people celebrating together were told to remain locked in.
Vaughan described trying to shield his daughters from the frightening rumors circulating.
“Someone mentioned that Dover Heights had been attacked.
I didn’t tell my girls what people were saying.
The bouncers were clearly anxious, too—you can take a punch, but you can’t see a bullet coming.”
Shock and Sorrow
Vaughan expressed deep sorrow for the victims.
“I feel desperately sorry for the people who have lost their lives and loved ones. I can’t believe this has happened here.
Part of the reason you come to Australia is because you feel safe.”
After being held inside for a couple of hours, Vaughan and his family were finally allowed to leave and return to their home in Coogee.
“I went for a walk on the beach the next morning, and it was very sombre.
Everyone realizes it could have happened anywhere.”
Tragic Toll of the Attack
The attack claimed the lives of sixteen people, including a 10-year-old girl, and injured at least 42 others.
Authorities have confirmed the incident was a deliberate assault targeting the Jewish community during a Hanukkah celebration at the northern end of Bondi Beach.
Rumors that Dover Heights was also attacked have been proven false.
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