RAHIMI Ahmad was hit when the shooting began. He went down and decided to stay down, playing dead. That probably saved his life this morning during a deadly attack by gunmen on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, NST Online reports.

Rahimi’s friend, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Rahimi is injured, but he acted as if he was dead.”

Luckily, Rahimi’s 11-year-old son was playing outside, when the attack occurred in Masjid Al Noor on Deans Avenue. The boy was retrieved and brought to safety when the shooting began.

Rahimi’s friend also identified another Malaysian injured in the shooting as Mohd Tarmizi Shuib, 46, a flight simulator operator. 

Tarmizi was shot in the back and is reported to be receiving treatment in hospital.

Tarmizi’s son, Hazig is still missing. The friend said Tarmizi was at the mosque with his wife and two sons.

“Mizi ran off with Hariz, but he was shot in the back. Hariz is safe now. Haziq was left behind with Nazril and Rahimi. We are still unsure of Haziq’s status,” he said.

Attacks on two Christchurch mosques today left at least 49 dead, with one gunman – identified as an Australian extremist – apparently livestreaming the assault that triggered the lockdown of the city of Christchurch.

Forty-one dead were killed at Masjid Al Noor on Deans Avenue, seven were killed at Linwood mosque, and one died in hospital.

It was not immediately clear how many attackers were involved, but police said four men had been taken into custody. – March 15, 2019.