Sawt Falasteen - Australian lifeguards fall silent for Bondi Beach victims

Hundreds of rescuers stood by the water's edge along the length of the beach, six days after the two alleged assailants carried out one of the deadliest mass shootings in Australia's history.

The elder gunman, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was killed in a shootout with police. His 24-year-old son Naveed survived and has been charged on multiple counts including terrorism and 15 murders.

Facing the ocean while wearing their red-and-yellow uniforms, the lifeguards observed three minutes of silence.

Some cried or hugged each other at the morning ceremony, with a surf lifesaving helicopter hovering overhead, television images showed.

Surf lifesavers across the country were joining the homage in solidarity before starting their morning patrols.

Lifesavers wanted to recognise the "tragedy that has unfolded at Bondi while also reflecting on our respect and compassion for the Jewish community targeted by this attack", Bondi's two lifesaving clubs said in a message.

"We pay respects to those who lost their lives, those who risked their lives, those who worked so hard to save lives, and all of us who will never forget."

- 'Remarkable' -

On Sunday, Australia will hold a national day of reflection.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Australians to light candles at 6:47 pm (0747 GMT) on Sunday, December 21 -- "exactly one week since the attack unfolded".

Lifeguards at Bondi have been praised for their courage on the day of the December 14 attack, dragging people to safety, bandaging and resuscitating victims, and pulling panicked swimmers from the waves.

A photo shared widely online showed lifeguard Jackson Doolan running barefoot down the road from a neighbouring beach towards the Bondi shooting, carrying a defibrillator to help victims.

"There have been so many moving stories, but the viral image of Jackson Doolan, running from Tamarama to Bondi with a defibrillator so he could help save lives is remarkable," Waverley Council Mayor Will Nemesh said.

"Our lifeguards show selflessness every day in keeping our world-famous beaches safe for surfers and swimmers, but what we saw on Sunday night should be commended and celebrated," he said.

Australia's volunteer surf lifesaving clubs, which first emerged in the early 20th century on Sydney's ocean beaches, now have more than 200,000 members across the country, carrying out more than 8,000 rescues in the past year.

B.AbuZeid--SF-PST