It’s been quite the 24 hours.
I live in Bondi so the tragic mass shooting obviously felt too close to home.
I was sitting outside on the balcony when I heard sirens, but more than usual… they kept coming, heaps of emergency vehicles speeding down Bondi rd so you could tell is was pretty serious. Police were blaring their sirens and horns weaving through cars and traffic lights racing down towards the beach.
I knew something was up, my skin felt all prickly as I saw neighbours starting to also walk outside and see what all the commotion was. Soon helicopters were circling, my partner and I jumped online to the local Bondi Facebook groups and there were posts of people fleeing in masses and comments saying there’s a mass shooting unfolding. Soon after then more waves on sirens, this time ambulances. I saw cars speeding up my street, through red lights just to get as far away from the scene as possible.
Then the tragic news of death that has followed. The videos online circling of lifeless bloody bodies and some people running into danger to try and assist the injured and dying. One of the people killed is known by my brother, he was on of his rugby coaches. Another friend knows another person in hospital recovering after being shot. It’s all way too close for comfort.
And in Australia, my home. This doesn’t happen here… we were proud to be one of the safest countries.
Then head to work this morning trying to distract myself from the recent events and a colleague collapsed and had a seizure, I heard it happen and immediately ran in and put him in the recovery position as I called out for someone to call an ambulance.
He’s okay thankfully, apparently he has a history of seizures but it was pretty confronting having him violently convulsing and bleeding from the nose and mouth.
So yeah, my nervous system is a bit shot. And my heart is so heavy for our community and for all those affected by the senseless Bondi tragedy.
Hold your loved ones close, I know I am.
