Hero Frenchman who fended off Sydney mall knife attacker is granted permanent residency in Australia
A FRENCHMAN who fended off the Sydney knife attack killer has been granted permanent residency in Australia.
Hero Damien Guerot, 31, was nicknamed Bollard Man after security footage showed him warding off Joel Cauchi with a plastic barrier post.
His actions — with pal Silas Despreaux, who was not seen on camera — saved lives in an attack that left six dead and a dozen more wounded.
Guerot was also filmed brandishing a plastic chair as he ran toward Cauchi behind Police Insp. Amy Scott.
Guerot along with fellow French national and work colleague Silas Despreaux were with Scott when she ended Cauchis rampage with a fatal shot.
Despreaux, like Guerot, had chased Cauchi and threw a pole at the killer but didnt seem to appear on footage posted on social media or broadcast by the news.
Builder Guerot’s temporary work visa had been due to expire in July until Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese intervened.
He said: “I say this to Damian — 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 be a loss for France.
“We thank him for his extraordinary bravery.”
But Guerot had mixed emotions.
He said: “It’s just unbelievable. But how can I be also happy when many people and families are very sad for their loss?”
His French friend Despreaux is already a permanent resident of Australia.
Who did Joel Cauchi kill at Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre?
Cauchi stabbed five women and one man to death.
The victims are:
- Faraz Tahir, 30, a refugee who started working as a security guard in the shopping centre on the day of the attack
- Dr. Ashlee Good, 38, a mum whose nine-month-old baby was also stabbed
- Dawn Singleton, 25, an e-commerce assistant and daughter of businessman John Singleton,
- Jade Young, 47, an architect and mother-of-two
- Pikria Darchia, 55, a local artist
- unidentified woman
