Former England captain Michael Vaughan has shared a chilling first-hand account after he and his family found themselves dangerously close to a deadly terrorist attack in Sydney on Sunday evening. Vaughan, who is in Australia for the ongoing Ashes series as a pundit, was dining at a restaurant in Bondi when gunmen opened fire at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration just a few kilometres away.
The horrific incident claimed 15 lives and left dozens injured, sending shockwaves across Australia and the sporting world. The attack occurred near the famous Bondi Beach, where around 1,000 people had gathered for the celebration.
According to police reports, a father and son carried out the shooting. The father was killed during a shootout with security forces, while the son was left critically injured. Authorities later confirmed the incident as a terrorist attack, prompting widespread condemnation from global leaders.
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Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Michael Vaughan described the terrifying moments as events unfolded alarmingly close to where his family was present. “Like most people, I’ve watched terrorist attacks unfold on television in places like London or Manchester, and that already feels frighteningly close to home,” Vaughan wrote. “But to be so near that you can actually hear it happening is something else entirely. It’s terrifying.”
Initially, Vaughan admitted he misunderstood the gravity of the situation. Loud sirens pierced the evening air, and his first thought was that it might be a shark alert—something not uncommon around Australian beaches. However, the mood quickly shifted. While waiting for a table, Vaughan was outside a nearby pub when a bouncer urgently signalled for him to get inside, indicating something far more serious was unfolding.
By the time the family sat down to eat, news of the attack had begun to filter through. Social media was flooded with rumours of hostages and multiple attacks across Sydney, adding to the panic. The restaurant immediately locked its doors, making it clear that no one would be allowed to leave until authorities confirmed it was safe. Vaughan and his family remained inside from around 7 pm until nearly 9 pm.
“There were six of us—me, my wife, her sister, my two daughters, and one of their friends,” Michael Vaughan explained. “I tried to stay as calm as possible. Children sense fear instantly, and the last thing you want is to add to that.”
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Reflecting the next day, Vaughan admitted the reality hit even harder. The family could easily have been on the beach where the attack took place, had their plans not changed due to his son’s cricket match running late. “That’s the part that really stays with you,” he wrote.
The tragic incident has plunged Australia into mourning, with leaders across the world condemning the violence as an antisemitic act and expressing solidarity with the victims and their families.
