Married At First Sight intimacy expert Alessandra Rampolla paid tribute to the victims of the Westfield Bondi Junction massacre on Sunday.
The 50-year-old from San Juan, Puerto Rico took to Instagram to express her deep connection to the area and her sadness over the tragic incident.
Rampolla revealed her deep ties to the Bondi area, which has served as her second home since arriving in Australia to film the Channel Nine dating show in 2020.
‘I’m so sad! It’s hard to wrap my brain around something so horrific,” she began.
She also revealed that Bondi had a special place in her heart as it was the very first place she visited after her hotel quarantine.
Married At First Sight intimacy expert Alessandra Rampolla paid tribute to the victims of the Westfield Bondi Junction massacre on Sunday
She wrote, “Here I built deep friendships, wonderful memories, and a conscious community. It’s my home away from home.’
Alessandra extended her heartfelt prayers to those affected by the tragedy, as well as to those traumatized by the events.
“Praying for all those whose lives were ruthlessly taken, for those recovering in hospital and for all those who witnessed this tragedy or have been traumatized in any way by this tragedy,” she added.
‘I’m so sad! It’s hard to wrap my brain around something so horrific,” she began. With Bondi holding a special place in her heart, the very first place she visited after her hotel quarantine, news of the violence hit particularly close to home.
Police were called to the Westfield shopping center in Sydney’s Bondi Junction after reports a man stabbed shoppers with a knife at 3.30pm on Saturday.
Witnesses say knifeman Joel Cauchi chased and slashed shoppers as he went on a wild rampage, killing six people and injuring seven, including a baby.
He was eventually shot dead by the police.
Police were called to Westfield shopping center in Sydney’s Bondi Junction after reports a man with a knife stabbed shoppers at 3.30pm on Saturday. In the photo: Joël Cauchi
Among the dead was Sydney mother Ash Good, 38, who threw her injured nine-month-old baby at a bystander in an attempt 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 Cauchi dead during his rampage.