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'I just did everything I could.' How Sherif Ibrahim narrowly escaped the Christchurch attack.

Mamamia has chosen not to show the face of the man in custody for the Christchurch terror attack, or to include or link to any distressing material about his acts. Instead, we are dedicated to remembering the names, faces and stories of the victims.

The Christchurch terrorist attack has become the deadliest mass shooting in modern New Zealand history.

In what Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has called “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”, a white supremacist opened fire at the Masjid Al Noor mosque where hundreds of men, women and children were gathering for their Friday afternoon prayer.

On Monday morning, the death toll from the attacks was reported by authorities as 50, with a further 50 people left injured.

Now, as the world begins to come to grips with the horrific events of Friday afternoon, the survivors of the attack have begun to share their stories.

Listen to Mamamia’s daily news podcast The Quicky deep dive on the Christchurch terror attack. Post continues after audio.

Sherif Ibrahim is just one of many who miraculously survived the attack.

Speaking to The Project reporter Hamish Macdonald, the 25-year-old Egyptian born Kiwi accountant shared his remarkable story of survival.

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“The feeling was surreal. Not something I would expect. It was just like something out of a movie,” Sherif said.

“I was just turning around, seeing people scramble for their lives. There was a glass window inside and someone broke the glass and we all crawled out,” he continued.

“I ran out, telling everyone to get out because there was a gunman. They started rushing to their cars. I just did everything that I could. And hopefully it deterred people from entering the mosque.”

But although Sherif’s actions likely saved many lives that day, he still feels guilty that he couldn’t do more.

“Sometimes I feel guilty. I wish I could have done something but in my position, there was just no way I could do anything,” he said.

After leaving the mosque, Sherif spent hours trying to contact his parents to find out whether they had survived the attack.

Luckily, Sherif’s parents were late to the mosque that day. They survived. But many of Sherif’s family and friends didn’t.

Despite the tragic loss he has suffered, Sherif told The Project that the gunman’s actions haven’t deterred him from practicing his faith.

“He achieved nothing… he is a failure and he will rot in prison,” he said.

“There is anger, of course, there is sadness, I’m devastated, but I’m not deterred.

“I will continue to go to my mosque. I will continue to go to any mosque. I will continue to practice my faith. What doesn’t break you makes you stronger.”

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