The man dubbed the Bondi hero has fired back at Sky News Australia, as he remains embroiled in a media controversy with the cable channel after his late withdrawal from a high-profile interview. 

Ahmed Al Ahmed, the tobacco shop owner from Sydney‘s west, was wounded while disarming one of the gunmen during the deadly Bondi Beach attack on December 14.

Sky News Australia claimed on Tuesday that he offered to do a full sit-down interview with Sky News anchor Sharri Markson on his release from hospital over the weekend.

In return, the news channel claimed they arranged his $6,000-a-night suite at Crown Casino’s Barangaroo hotel in Sydney CBD harbourfront. 

But at the last moment, they claimed he decided not to go ahead with the interview, prompting a Sky News article which allegedly revealed all the arrangements made.

Now, Mr Al Ahmed has spoken out – on his newly-launched Instagram account @ahmedalahmedsydneyhero – to accuse the organisation of omitting key details in their version of events.

‘The report published by Sky News does not fully reflect the facts and contains selective information that lacks accuracy,’ he posted on Wednesday.

‘We strongly believe in the importance of professional journalism and present the full facts to the public out of respect for our audience, while reserving our legal rights.

‘They didn’t even care about my health condition!’ 

The post was later deleted after the Daily Mail contacted Sky News Australia about it.

The statement comes after the channel’s Head of Programs, Mark Calvert, penned a lengthy article for Sky News Australia’s website which described the day as ‘frustrating’ and at times ‘surreal’.

According to Calvert, Markson was contacted on Christmas Day by Mr Al Ahmed’s lawyer, Sam Issa, who asked if she would like to interview Mr Al Ahmed after he was discharged from hospital.

Mr Al Ahmed later spoke directly with Markson from his hospital bed on Boxing Day, recounting how he intervened during the attack when he believed the gunman was moving towards a larger group of Jewish people.

During those conversations, he said he would like to visit the Bondi memorial site with Markson to release six white doves, one for each of the major religions in Australia.

He also suggested survivors and relatives of victims could join him.

Calvert said Sky News met all of the requests, sourcing the white doves, lining up Jewish community members, and booking the camera crew.

He said staff – including Markson herself – were recalled from Christmas leave and Crown Sydney provided the luxury hotel suite for three nights.

On the morning of the planned interview, Mr Al Ahmed reportedly set up social media accounts under the name @ahmedalahmedsydneyhero.

He also showed Markson photographs of his injuries, including images of the five bullet wounds to his arm, along with footage of him tackling the gunman.

Over breakfast at the hotel, Markson presented Mr Al Ahmed with a silver Star of David necklace as a gesture of gratitude from herself and members of the Jewish community.

Sky executives said the interview at that stage appeared ready to proceed.

He told staff he would briefly return to his room to freshen up and greet his parents who had just arrived at the hotel, before joining the film crew.

He did not return, and as the scheduled time passed, the news crew’s calls and messages went unanswered.

Calvert insisted Mr Al Ahmed had assured him personally that it would proceed.

‘He looked me in the eye, and in front of his lawyer, cousins and Crown staff, Ahmed gave me a solemn promise,’ Calvert wrote.

Mr Al Ahmed said he needed additional pain medication and would briefly return to hospital before coming back for the interview at 4pm.

That afternoon, Calvert claims Mr Al Ahmed’s lawyer said tensions had emerged between himself and his client and he had ‘sacked himself’ from representing Mr Al Ahmed.

Mr Al Ahmed later answered a call and said he would still speak with Markson but the interview never took place, said Calvert.

As Sky staff were leaving Crown Sydney that evening, Calvert claimed Mr Al Ahmed was seen returning with a cousin from the Barangaroo bar and dining precinct.

He told them he had withdrawn because he felt let down by someone close to him and was too upset to proceed, said Calvert.

Calvert wrote that Mr Al Ahmed gave no clear answer about rescheduling the interview or about the dove ceremony planned for Bondi.

However, Mr Al Ahmed continued to receive high-level visitors in the hotel suite. 

On Tuesday, he was visited at Crown Towers by Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Mamon, and NSW Premier Chris Minns.

The incident has prompted debate about the management of media access to Mr Al Ahmed, who has been widely praised for his actions during the attack.

Only a day earlier, Mr Al Ahmed had spoken with CBS News at the Crown suite.

He told Australian CBS journalist Anna Coren that despite being labelled a hero, his thoughts remained with the victims who did not survive.

‘I know I saved lots of people’s lives, innocent kids and women and men,’ he said. ‘But I still feel sorry for the lost.’

Footage from the attack showed Mr Al Ahmed leaping from behind a parked car and wrestling gunman Sajid Akram to the ground before he was wounded during a police firefight.

Doctors have removed a bullet from his shoulder and repaired nerve damage, though it is believed he may suffer permanent injury and require further surgery.

Last week, Mr Al Ahmed was presented with a $2.5million cheque as the proceeds from a global fundraiser that attracted more than 43,000 donations. 

His tobacco business in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire was sold while he was recovering in hospital.

His family, who live overseas, have been granted visas to travel to Australia to support his recovery. His parents, Mohamed and Malakeh, were already in Australia at the time of the attack, and his siblings have since arrived.

According to his former lawyer, Mr Al Ahmed has not yet made plans for his future, with his focus remaining on recovery from his injuries.