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Home / New Zealand

Christchurch shooting victim still in coma, more life-saving surgery ahead

Anna Leask
By Anna Leask
Senior Journalist - crime and justice·NZ Herald·
18 Mar, 2019 09:22 PM2 mins to read

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Latest updates on the aftermath of the Christchurch shootings.

A man shot in the Al Noor Mosque on Friday remains in a coma four days on - and will undergo further surgery to keep him alive.

Rahimi Ahmad, 39, went for Friday prayers with his 11-year-old son at around 1pm.

Forty minutes later a gunman marched into the mosque
and opened fire, killing dozens of worshippers.

Ahmad was shot - a bullet tearing through his stomach and hitting his spinal cord.
He was rushed to Christchurch Hospital and remains there, in a coma.

He has already had two operations and his wife Azila said a third was planned for tomorrow.

Rahimi Ahmad, pictured with his wife Azila and their two children at home in Christchurch, was badly injured in the mosque attack. Photo / supplied
Rahimi Ahmad, pictured with his wife Azila and their two children at home in Christchurch, was badly injured in the mosque attack. Photo / supplied

She said his condition was very serious, but he was stable.

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He has not woken up at any stage.

Azila said she and her family were coping, but it was a hard and busy time.

After Friday's terror attacks Azila could not contact Rahimi.

She was terrified he was among the dead.

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Then at 9pm a doctor friend called her from the hospital.

"He said Rahimi was in ICU, he is unconscious - but alive," she told the Herald at the weekend.

"I just immediately rushed to the hospital and went to see him.

"It was just chaos over there, but I found him ... he was unconscious, but stable."

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Ahmad is one of around 50 people admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds.

The Herald is aware of another man who has had multiple operations - including one of six hours - after he was hit by several bullets.

As of yesterday 31 victims remained in hospital - nine in intensive care in a critical condition.

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