A Syrian refugee who had only recently arrived in Australia was mistaken for a terrorist during Sunday night’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach and shot by police, despite heroically disarming one of the attackers.

The incident occurred at the Jewish Chanukah by the Sea event when two men—Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24—who are believed to have pledged allegiance to Islamic State—opened fire on a crowd of hundreds. The attack killed at least 15 people, including a ten-year-old girl, and injured dozens.

In the chaos, the refugee—whose name has not been released but is known as Ahmed el Ahmed—jumped into action to disarm one of the attackers. After the gunman was subdued by police, the man ran toward the still-active shooter and kicked away his rifle.

However, he was immediately mistaken for a suspect by onlookers who then attacked him. Law enforcement officers also shot at him, believing him to be part of the terrorist threat.

Ahmed el Ahmed is recovering in the hospital with a GoFundMe page for his medical needs having surpassed $1 million. He arrived in Sydney over a decade ago and is the father of two daughters aged five and six.

His mother has described her emotional reaction upon learning her son’s heroic actions: “I couldn’t stop crying.”

Alison Battisson, an immigration lawyer representing Ahmed el Ahmed, stated that while his client has Australian family members, he remains on a temporary visa with no guaranteed path to permanent residency. She added: “He’s got an Australian partner and Australian children but he has no right to stay in Australia long term to be with them.”

Battisson also noted that it is “open to public opinion as to whether somebody who put himself in significant danger to help the Australian community has earned a right to stay in Australia.”