‘He went down fighting’: heartbroken families mourn
Robyn Wuth |
As the hail of bullets rang out, cutting down innocent men, women and children, Reuven Morrison fought with the only weapon he could find – a brick.
The Bondi attack victim has been remembered for “fighting a terrorist” despite the overwhelming odds, as families plead for remains to be released to allow for a traditional Jewish farewell.
Mr Morrison, 62, was one of 15 men, women and children slaughtered on Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a family Hanukkah celebration on Sunday.
His daughter Sheina Gutnick said her father was a hero who refused to cower to the heavily armed terrorists – instead defiantly running directly towards danger.
Footage shows him running at the gunmen – without cover – before hurling the makeshift weapon at them. It cost his life.
“If there was one way for him to go on this earth, it would be fighting a terrorist,” Ms Gutnick later told US broadcaster CBS.
“There was no other way he would be taken from us. He went down fighting, protecting the people he loved the most.”
“My father was murdered. In cold blood. Shot. For being Jewish,” she said.
The 62-year-old had fled the Soviet Union for Australia, becoming a “loud and proud Jew” in a community that welcomed him with open arms.
He carved out a new home, building a family and a business.
“He put others before himself. It cost him his life,” Ms Gutnick said.
“Ripped from his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and dear grandchildren. Leaving a gaping, heaving wound of sorrow.”
As the criminal investigation into the surviving gunman continues, some of those grieving are urging their religious rites for the dead be respected.
Chana Anzalak, whose father-in-law Tibor Weitzen also died in the bloodbath, begged for his remains to be released.
“In our religion, the biggest respect that we can give to our dead, to the deceased, is to bury them straight away,” Ms Anzalak told Nine News at Bondi.
“And unfortunately, in this situation, we’re at a standstill, and we’re stuck. We can’t start the Shiva (the traditional morning period).
“It’s been over 36 hours. This is extremely painful, and every minute and every hour that goes by is sacred.”
The parents of the massacre’s youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda, visited the makeshift memorial at Bondi Beach, metres from where the girl was gunned down while celebrating Hanukkah.
She and a 40-year-old man died of their wounds in hospital after the Sunday evening attack, while 13 people were killed at the scene.
Another 42 were injured.
It’s the nation’s deadliest shooting since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Dozens remain in hospital, including 12 fighting for their lives in a critical condition.
The federal government has offered support for victims’ funerals and any visitor visas for relatives wishing to visit Australia for those funerals.
State financial support will also be offered through the Victims Support Scheme, while trained disaster mental health support clinicians will be on the ground at Bondi in the coming days to help the wider community manage trauma.
AAP
