Married At First Sight intimacy expert Alessandra Rampolla has shared a tribute to the victims of Westfield Bondi Junction massacre on Sunday.
The 50-year-old from San Juan in Puerto Rico took to Instagram to express her profound connection to the area and her grief over the tragic incident.
Rampolla revealed her deep ties to the Bondi area, which has served as her second home since her arrival in Australia to film the Channel Nine dating show in 2020.
‘I’m so very sad! It’s hard to wrap my brain around something so horrific,’ she began.
She also revealed Bondi held a special place in her heart, being the very first place she visited after her hotel quarantine.
She wrote, ‘It’s where I’ve built profound friendships, amazing memories and mindful community. It’s my home away from home.’
Alessandra extended her heartfelt prayers to those impacted by the tragedy, and those also individuals who have been left traumatised by the events.
‘Praying for all those whose lives were ruthlessly taken, those who are recovering in hospital, and all those who witnessed or were in any way traumatised by this tragedy,’ she added.
Police were called to Westfield shopping centre in Sydney’s Bondi Junction after reports a man with a knife was stabbing shoppers at 3.30pm on Saturday.
Witnesses say knifeman Joel Cauchi chased and slashed at shoppers as he went on a wild rampage killing six and injuring seven, including a baby.
He was ultimately shot dead by police.
Among the dead is Sydney mother Ash Good, 38, who threw her injured nine-month-old infant to a bystander in a bid to save her life.
The baby is undergoing surgery and it is believed the two were the first to be targeted by the attacker.
A heroic police officer, NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, single-handedly confronted and shot dead Cauchi during his rampage.