A 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor and a young French national were among at least 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire on families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, an attack declared a terrorist incident.
Matilda, 10, was described by her aunt as a “very sweet, happy child, with a beautiful smile.” She was enjoying festivities with her parents, younger sister and friends when the two gunmen opened fire. Matilda was wounded and rushed to hospital, where doctors fought unsuccessfully to save her.
Matilda’s father, Michael, recounted wrapping his shirt around his daughter as she told him she was struggling to breathe. At a public memorial, he said he named her Matilda because she was his first child born in Australia, calling it “the most Australian name to ever exist.” Her mother, Valentyna, said through tears that after leaving Ukraine, she “could not imagine I would lose my daughter here.”
Alex Kleytman, 87, a Holocaust survivor, died while shielding his wife Larisa from bullets. His family said he survived World War II in Siberia and “cherished Australia, the Australian way of life, the freedom, democracy, people.” He leaves behind his wife, two children and 11 grandchildren.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, who organized the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, was also killed. Chabad said he was a devoted rabbi and chaplain, leaving behind his wife and five children, including a son born in October.
