By Tom Wark in Sydney

The courageous shop owner who snuck up behind one of the Bondi gunmen to disarm him has been lauded as a hero and inspiration by the prime minister.

Anthony Albanese met Ahmed Al Ahmed and his family on Tuesday morning as the 43-year-old recovers in St George Hospital in Sydney from injuries suffered in his act of bravery.

Mr Al Ahmed was “just trying to get a cup of coffee” when the carnage unfolded at Bondi on Sunday evening, Mr Albanese said.

“He decided to take action and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians,” he told reporters outside the hospital.

“Ahmed al-Ahmed represents the best of our country.”

It was the second bedside visit from a dignitary in as many days after NSW Premier Chris Minns dropped in on Monday evening.

Mr Al Ahmed used the opportunity to cheekily ask Mr Minns whether he’d get to see the nation’s leader too.

“(Mr Minns) told me he’s a great character… he’s a hero,” the prime minister told Nova radio.

“He is a hero and that needs to be recognised and I’m absolutely certain that we will do that.”

At least 15 people were killed and scores more were injured in Sunday’s attack when father-and-son terrorists fired on a Jewish gathering at Bondi Beach.

In footage that went viral globally, Mr Al Ahmed crouched behind a vehicle in a nearby car park, before sneaking up behind a gunman and wrestling the weapon from his grip.

The hero shop owner was subsequently shot in his left shoulder and hand by the other gunman.

He is expected to undergo further surgery on Wednesday.

“He’s got extensive injuries to his upper torso, particularly his shoulder and the clavicle area,” NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told 2GB.

“But look, he’s doing very, very well… Time Magazine could easily put him on the front cover (as) the Person of the Year.”

Mustafa Al-Asaad said his cousin, an Australian citizen originally from Syria, told him “God granted me courage to jump on the gunman”.

“He wasn’t thinking of death when he saw bullets flying in the air,” Mr Al Asaad told BBC Arabic.

More than 34,000 people had raised more than $2 million by early on Tuesday afternoon to support Mr Al Ahmed and his family.