'I live in Bondi and it has a warm, community feel - yesterday proved there is evil everywhere'

For so many that live nearby, the events that unfolded on Sunday are so hard to believe - and so far away from the vibrant, welcoming community that Bondi is proud to have

Bondi has an incomparable warm, community feel. It’s a home to many from near and far because of just that and yesterday that was stripped away. The sounds that filled the streets were terrifying. Since moving from England last year I haven’t once questioned my safety but the tragic events that unfolded at the place I love on Sunday proved that there is evil everywhere.

Just moments before gunshots were fired the beach was bustling. It was a busy summer’s evening and the sun was shining. The streets were packed. I had popped to the beach for a dip with my friends and left at around 6.20pm. On my walk back home, only 10 minutes from the beach, I witnessed people out drinking, live music playing and smiles all around.

I sent a message to my friend who I had just left saying: “It’s such nice vibes everywhere tonight.” My next message was checking if she was OK.

What we now know is that what we originally thought were fireworks from my flat, as did most people nearby, were actually gunshots. Moments after rushes of messages came in warning to ‘stay inside’. Then came the pure panic of checking on everyone you know. Living away from home, friends here become family.

The moments that followed became a blur as I made calls and messaged all the people I love who could have been impacted when going about their everyday life. I am so lucky and grateful to know everyone is safe, but feel a lot of pain for those that aren’t able to say the same.

Immediately I messaged and called my family to let them know I was safe, before the news made it to the UK. As people began to wake up at home, floods more messages came in to check on me. All I could think about was the people who wouldn’t be able to reply to those same questions.

Even from inside my flat in south Bondi all that could be heard were sirens, until late in the night. I’ve never heard so many helicopters. The noises continued late into the evening, with announcements being made by speaker phone.

People at my old workplace witnessed the tragedy, hiding in the kitchen and in bins. People I know of that were out in restaurants and bars rushed to find some sort of hiding spot. When the news that a car full of explosives was found, more fear stirred. Everyone is shaken up.

This morning, Bondi is mourning.

Helicopters continue to circle. It feels surreal and is a stark reminder that the world can be such a scary place. Everyone is sending their love especially to the Jewish community in Bondi and Sydney as the innocent victims of this awful attack.

As the death toll rises, I know I don’t just speak for myself when I say it hurts that little bit more. Learning that children as young as 10 went to the beach and never made it home is heartbreaking.

Nobody expects for a mass shooting to happen near them. Nobody expects to live in the same place a terrorist attack takes place. But most of all nobody expects such a thing to happen in Bondi, which used to feel like the safest place in the world.