Maydad Ronen, a boxer who previously lived in Rotorua, said he lives about a five-minute walk from the iconic beach. <\/p>\n
Ronen said he had been training at a park where another festival was taking place, close to the beach where the Jewish Hanukkah festival, Chanukah by the Sea, was held.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were other areas in Sydney, in the eastern suburbs, where they were doing Hanukkah celebrations by the harbour, but this particular one was by the beach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronen, who is Jewish, told the Rotorua Daily Post he got home about 6.30pm. <\/p>\n
The shooting began about 15 minutes later.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I went home, I found out that this was all going on down Bondi, and I\u2019m so glad I left the park because it was another [potential] target.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Rotorua resident now living in Bondi Beach, Maydad Ronen, has recounted his experience of the mass shooting in Bondi on Sunday. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Ronen said he heard gunshots and saw helicopters flying above. <\/p>\n
\u201cI walked out on the street, and had these people running through the streets. There was a lady with two kids, and she was just about crying.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the woman had witnessed \u201ctwo guys\u201d on the bridge by the beach opening fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said to her, this Italian lady, What\u2019s wrong? I heard about the shooting. What\u2019s going on with the helicopters flying above?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronan watched the footage posted online and realised what had happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never expected this; it\u2019s heartbreaking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronen said it was \u201creally sad\u201d and terrible that a shooting of this nature had happened so close by.<\/p>\n
The scene at Bondi Beach in the aftermath of the shootings. Photo \/ Sam Sherry<\/p>\n
\u201cBondi is a beautiful place, we\u2019re living in a beautiful country that has a diverse multicultural influx of different people from different religions, races, and backgrounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sad that we can\u2019t exist together without stuff like this happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c \u2026 It\u2019s really sad that in our day and age, our children have to witness this.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he had people ringing him from all over the world and he had received calls and text messages from Rotorua.<\/p>\n
Ronen lived in Rotorua for five years<\/a> before moving to Bondi in 2004, but said he returned frequently to his \u201chome away from home\u201d to visit family. <\/p>\n He said he returned to Bondi two weeks ago after another trip to Rotorua, where he was formally inducted into the World Masters WBF Boxing Hall of Fame \u2013 a significant milestone in his boxing career.<\/p>\n Political leaders condemn shooting<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s Prime Minister has condemned the mass shooting, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog labelling the gunmen \u201cvile terrorists\u201d.<\/p>\n