‘Bullets were flying above us’: Mum recalls protecting baby as gunmen opened firepublished at 13:41 GMT
Gabriela Pomeroy
Live reporter
Chavi says she and her baby were “very close to a gunman” when the Bondi Beach attack began
I’ve spoken to Chavi, 27, who was attending the Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach on Sunday when the shooting happened.
The high school teacher tells me she dropped to the ground to protect her baby as “bullets were flying above us”.
“I was very close to a gunman,” she says, and remembers hearing “loud, pounding shooting all over the place.”
“People got murdered around me, just metres away from me. I
used my body as a human shield and I was trying to not suffocate the baby, he
was screaming and his face was red.
“I kept thinking, if the bullet will come, at least it will come onto me. I was wondering if this was my last day.”
She tells me that “it went on for so long, we
said prayers while lying on the ground. I was totally focused on trying to protect my baby”.
Chavi says three of her close friends were killed.
After the shooting, injured people were lying on the ground around her. She grabbed two of her friend’s children to take them away to safety as they were separated from their parents in the attack.
She tells me the children later learned their father was killed.
Quote MessageIt went on for so long, we said prayers while lying on the ground. I was totally focused on trying to protect my baby”
Chavi, 27
