Christchurch mosque shootings: Man reveals how gun shot victim tried to save child

A young Dunedin man injured in the mosque attacks on Friday is now recovering in hospital where he has told a member of Dunedin's Muslim community how he tried to save a child.

Fifty people died after accused gunman Australian national Brenton Tarrant, who had been living in Dunedin since at least 2017, opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday afternoon.

Dr Mohammed Rizwan, president of the Otago Muslim Association, has travelled to Christchurch along with about 20 others from Dunedin to help families affected.

Academic Dr Mohammed Rizwan has travelled to Christchurch with about 20 others from Dunedin, to help in the aftermath of Friday's massacre. Photo / Gregor Richardson

He said Dunedin man Mustafa Boztas was in a stable condition in hospital after being shot in the leg.

"We are holding strong. We don't want to be scared, and that's obviously what the person had intended," Rizwan said.

Shrapnel from the bullet had travelled up Boztas' leg and into his liver.

Rizwan said he had known Boztas since he was a little boy. He was now in his early 20s, and he understood he was studying in Christchurch.

"He is trying to keep his spirits up. He's so happy to see everyone, and his family are happy as well."

He had been in Christchurch for only a matter of weeks.

Rizwan said Boztas fell when he was shot in the leg, before bodies of his fellow worshippers began piling up on him.

Despite his injury he managed to haul himself up and run outside, where he saw a child lying on the ground with a gaping chest wound.

"When he heard everything was quiet, he got up and ran outside and he saw a kid lying on the ground with his eyes open.

"He has been shot in the chest, so he didn't want to do chest compressions, but started mouth to mouth."

However, the child did not respond.

Rizwan said the community was both saddened and shocked the attack happened in New Zealand, which was "one of the peaceful countries in the world".

The group of Dunedin people was visiting families affected by the shooting, and providing them with support.

"The families themselves are pretty much broken as to what happened."

Flowers placed by mourners at Christchurch Botanic Gardens, the official memorial site for victims of the terror attack. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Rizwan is the spiritual contact for Muslim students at the University of Otago. He did not know of any staff or students who were preparing to leave the country. On the contrary, "more and more people are pouring in" to help.

"People are coming from Australia, South Africa - there are volunteers here from the United States.

"The great thing is Air New Zealand has subsidised their flights as well."

More people were coming every day, and the community was waiting for the day the mosques would open again.

The Christchurch community and "various communities" had been very supportive, Rizwan said.

"We are here until we can bring the deceased [back]. We are waiting for the coroner to release the bodies."

Islamic rituals would also have to be followed before the bodies could be buried, and he understood Islamic scholars from around the country had also arrived in Christchurch and were working with police and coroners.

Islamic custom dictates a body should be buried as quickly as possible after death, but Rizwan said there was no anger at the delays in releasing the dead, as the community understood post-mortem examinations had to take place.

"There is no anger, no fuss."