Youngest Bondi Victim Remembered: Ukrainian Family's Daughter Lost in Mass Shooting

The family of 10-year-old Matilda has mourned their beloved daughter at a public vigil following her death in the Bondi Beach terror attack that claimed at least 15 lives on Sunday night.

Matilda was killed when two gunmen opened fire on members of Sydney's Jewish community who had gathered at the iconic beach to celebrate the start of Hanukkah. The targeted attack left dozens more injured and has triggered intense scrutiny of Australia's response to rising antisemitic violence and calls for further restrictions on gun ownership.

Matilda's family had immigrated to Australia from Ukraine before Russia's invasion. She was named Matilda because her parents viewed it as the most Australian name possible for their first child born in their new homeland. Her father Michael attended the menorah lighting ceremony at Bondi Pavilion, where hundreds gathered for the public vigil to farewell the victims of the horrific incident.

Matilda's mother Valentyna addressed the crowd with overwhelming emotion, describing the moment her daughter was targeted. She expressed the incomprehensibility of a gunman deliberately firing on a small child running to seek safety with her father. The act was not a stray bullet or accident, but a deliberate shooting, she said through tears.

Matilda's brother found solace in a recurring exchange with his sister. Whenever he asked if she knew he loved her, she would immediately answer affirmatively. This certainty that she felt loved and was not alone brought him comfort during his grief.

The youngest victim had a six-year-old sister who witnessed the attack. The two had never been separated and were inseparable, making the trauma of the incident compounded by their separation during the tragedy. The younger sister remains in absolute shock and stress as she processes the horrific loss of her older sibling.

Those close to Matilda described her as a happy, friendly child who loved school and had many friends. She was known for giving frequent cuddles to family members and embodied the brightness and innocence of childhood.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old surviving gunman regained consciousness from his coma on Tuesday evening while hospitalised. He began cooperating with police investigations, with authorities preparing to lay charges against him. Investigations have also linked both gunmen to Islamic State, with police discovering flags and bomb materials as evidence of their ideological motivations.