Two heroes who were among the first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack have fallen in love and will marry later this year.
Before December 14, romance was the last thing on the minds of content creator James McIntosh, 46, and physiotherapist Alexandra ‘Lexi’ Edmondson, 35.
The pair were new friends, having just completed an eight‑week surf lifesaving course together.
They were with another friend on their way to Bondi Surf Club’s Christmas party when their lives changed forever.
Two alleged gunmen had just opened fire at a Jewish Chanukah by the Sea celebration at the beach, where 15 were killed and dozens more wounded.
The pair raced to render first aid to seven victims between them, including a man who was shot in the leg.
A newspaper photo showed Mr McIntosh and Ms Edmondson helping several police officers carry the wounded survivor to a makeshift triage area for further treatment.
Feelings later emerged as the pair drove the injured man to hospital.
James McIntosh and Alexandra ‘Lexi’ Edmondson were just friends before the Bondi terrorist attack
The couple got engaged in Mexico on February 8
The pair (front row, white T-shirt and red-and-white top) were among the first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack
A kiss at a friend’s dinner two nights later began their whirlwind romance, and by Boxing Day they had moved in together.
Mr McIntosh popped the question while holidaying in Mexico last month with a ring that his new partner had picked out.
‘We had already talked about the idea of marriage and cleared it with our families,’ he told Daily Mail.
‘I had never been so sure of anything in my life.
‘She’s such a beautiful soul and I’ve never had an connection with anyone like this.’
Neither were looking for a relationship during the bronze medallion surf lifesaving course they graduated from just days before the shooting.
‘I instantly thought she was cute and adorable but believed that she was definitely in her 20s and didn’t even consider pursuing her,’ Mr McIntosh recalled.
‘I thought that we’d just be friends.’
The couple hard-launched their relationship – and engagement on Valentine’s Day
The new couple spent three weeks in Mexico last month, just weeks after the Bondi shooting brought them together
Ms Edmondson told The Weekend Australian: ‘We were never interested in each other in that way; he thought I was really young, I thought maybe he was married.
‘He really has filled my life with so much joy.’
Mr McIntosh recalled being in the gunmen’s line of sight before rushing in to help others rendering first aid.
‘At the time, I had no idea that dozens had been shot,’ he said.
‘Many people don’t realise that lifesavers already at the club just grabbed the defibrillators and were the first ones there, providing critical life support.
‘I later remember the sense of relief when Lexi and I were on our way to the hospital that we had gotten out of there.
‘Lexi was on the phone to her parents and I was just amazed at the strength and energy they all had.’
Feelings quickly developed in the coming days.
Romance was not on the cards when Lexi and James first met
The happy couple plan to marry later this year following their whirlwind romance
‘We kept on bumping into each other and our hearts cracked open,’ Mr McIntosh told Daily Mail.
The couple were inundated with messages from well-wishers back home when they announced their engagement on Valentine’s Day, several days after the sunset beach proposal.
The couple were among 80 Good Samaritans and first responders honoured at a Shabbat ceremony at Bondi’s Central Synagogue last Friday, where Rabbi Levi Wolff offered to marry them there after hearing the happy news.
They plan to marry in November and have plans to start a family.
The couple will consider the offer of becoming the first non-Jewish couple to marry at the synagogue.
‘We are very honoured but need to explore further about how that would all unfold, Mr McIntosh said.
‘But we love the idea that it could strengthen the community in a time of healing.’
The news comes as the grieving family of Matilda Britvan, 10, the youngest victim of the Bondi shooting announced a heartwarming update.
Matilda’s parents Michael and Valentyna married in front of family and close friends at Admiralty House on Saturday.
