'What they've seen, few people have ever seen': Lifeguards honour Bondi Beach victims

On an overcast morning, hundreds of Bondi lifeguards lined up on the beach, looked out at the sea and remembered the lives lost in the massacre at the Hanukkah celebration almost one week ago.

There was a two-minute silence and a fly-by over the beach by a rescue helicopter.

This was Bondi's lifeguards saying goodbye.

Surf lifesavers played a critical role in the aftermath of the attack. They ran to the scene with first aid kits and, in some cases, were barefoot.

Many were close by, attending a Christmas party at their club.

Vice president of the North Bondi Surf Club, Phil Suriano, said: "Our members were first responders, and what they're going through and what they've seen, few people have ever seen."

One 20-year-old surf lifesaver, JJ, was with friends on the night of the attack.

"I was swimming out at the rocks and we heard popping sounds going off," she said. "At first, I thought it was firecrackers going off down at the beach.

"It took a few rounds for me to realise that's not firecrackers."

"I was pretty close to the rocks and I was moving up them," she said.

"We got lots of people off the rocks and into shelter up in the houses that you can see at the northern end."

A few blocks away from Bondi Beach, Grigoriy Raunshteyn was at home trying to come to terms with it all.

He was at the Hanukkah celebration and heard the gunfire start. Once he realised what was happening, he switched on his Facebook livestream and broadcast the footage around the world.

"I started livestreaming, just to bring the awareness," he explained.

Millions of people have viewed the short videos.

Read more about the attack:
Inside hotel where alleged gunmen stayed during trip
Terror on camera: Pieceing together the full story of the Bondi attack
Australia plans gun buyback scheme in response to Bondi Beach killings

"I was lying down as instructed and trying to figure out where the shooters were. For some reason, I felt the shots coming from six or five different locations," Mr Raunshteyn said.

He had recently completed a first aid course, including CPR.

Once it was safe, Mr Raunshteyn tried to save those around him, including British-born rabbi Eli Schlenger. Rabbi Schlenger did not survive.

"We were waiting for the paramedics," said Mr Raunshteyn. "When they came, they quickly assessed him and said something like, 'move to the next person'."

"I thought 'I'll give him one rescue breath', and I did."

Grigoriy Raunshteyn is slowly processing those traumatic hours.

He never believed something like this could ever happen in Sydney.

(c) Sky News 2025: 'What they've seen, few people have ever seen': Lifeguards honour Bondi Beach victims