In a courageous act of bravery, a French national confronted a knife-wielding assailant inside a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia, using only a barrier post to deter the attacker. The incident, captured on video, shows Damien Guerot edging towards the assailant, Joel Cauchi, who was attempting to move to a higher floor using an escalator. Guerot's quick thinking and adrenaline-fueled actions were praised by both social media users and local media outlets, earning him the nickname "Bollard Man."

The stabbing attack, which took place on Saturday, resulted in the loss of six lives and left several others injured, including a 9-month-old baby. Cauchi was eventually shot dead by a police officer. Despite the tragic events, Guerot's heroic intervention has been widely celebrated.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his gratitude towards Guerot, commending his extraordinary bravery. During a news conference, Albanese offered Guerot an open invitation to stay in Australia for as long as he wishes, declaring that his actions earned him the status of a true Australian hero. Guerot, a construction worker with an expiring visa, has also been offered permanent residency, according to his lawyer, Belinda Robinson.

However, it is important to note that Guerot cannot immediately become an Australian citizen due to mandatory residency requirements, as highlighted by The Guardian Australia. The Australian Department of Home Affairs specifies that descent and conferral are the most common pathways to acquiring Australian citizenship. Nevertheless, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles praised Guerot's character and acknowledged his extraordinary bravery, stating that it exemplifies the values cherished by Australian society.

The motive of the attack, which predominantly targeted women, was determined to be unrelated to terrorism. Instead, it was revealed that Cauchi suffered from mental illness. Unfortunately, just two days after the mall attack, Sydney experienced another stabbing incident at an Assyrian church, where a bishop and a priest were injured. The investigation into this incident is currently ongoing, with police considering it a potential act of terrorism.

Guerot's heroic actions mirror previous acts of bravery exhibited by individuals who were honored by countries that were not their own. In 2018, an undocumented immigrant from Mali, Mamoudou Gassama, scaled a building in Paris to rescue a child hanging from a balcony. Gassama was quickly hailed as a national hero and earned the nickname "Spider-Man" due to his incredible feat.

The resilience and courage displayed by individuals like Guerot and Gassama in the face of tragedy serve as a reminder of the human spirit's ability to rise above adversity. Their selflessness in the midst of chaos has captured the admiration and gratitude of people around the globe.