A Frenchman who picked up a plastic pole and courageously faced off with the knife-wielding maniac who killed six people at an Australian mall has been told he can stay in the country as long as he likes — as Aussie women swoon over his heroic actions.
Damien Guerot, known online as the viral “bollard man,” confronted Joel Cauchi during his crazed attack Saturday, stopping him in his tracks on an escalator by aiming the heavy base of a pole directly at him.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Cauchi, whose visa expires in a month, could stay in Australia as long as he liked and that he was someone the country would “welcome becoming an Australian citizen.”
“I say this to Damien Guerot – who is dealing with his visa applications – that you are welcome here, you are welcome to stay for as long as you like,” Albanese told reporters Tuesday.
“This is someone who we would welcome becoming an Australian citizen, although that would of course be a loss for France.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton agreed, saying that Guerot — who was seen in surveillance footage putting his life on the line to try and stop Cauchi’s stabbing spree, “embodies the Anzac spirit,” news.com.au reported.
Aussie women cheered on the decision, many taking to the Internet to express how the country “needs more heroes like him.”
“I wonder if #Bollardman knows how many of us want to give him a big hug. Him and all the other brave souls who helped put a stop to this mentally disturbed man,” one person wrote.
“Bollard Man is hot! Mate if you need a spouse visa I’m available,” one chimed in.
Officials say Guerot’s actions stalling Cauchi on the escalator may have saved lives.
Cauchi, 40, was soon after shot dead by a responding officer after stabbing at least 14 people — mostly women — during his afternoon rampage at Bondi Westfield.
Five of the six people stabbed to death were women. Several others, including a baby, were injured.
Authorities had previously said the attack was related to Cauchi’s “mental health” and that he was already known to police but had never been arrested or charged in his home state Queensland.
He had moved from place to place for several years and had been diagnosed with an unconfirmed mental illness at 17, Queensland police said.
Victims have been identified by friends and family members:
- Pikria Darchia, a 55-year-old female artist and designer
- Ashlee Good, 38, a new mom who worked as a physical therapist
- Dawn Singleton, 25, a female e-commerce assistant whose father is millionaire entrepreneur John Singleton
- Jade Young, 47, an architect and mother of two
- Yixuan Cheng, 24, a female Chinese national studying in Australia
- Faraz Tahir, 30, a male security guard who was killed protecting shoppers
Cauchi’s family on Sunday condemned his behavior calling the savagery “truly horrific.”
