A probationary officer has been admitted to intensive care after being shot in the head during the Bondi Beach terror incident, police have confirmed.

Police in Australia confirmed that Jack Hibbert suffered “severe injuries” during Sunday’s shock shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. New South Wales (NSW) Police have commended his brave actions while out on duty.

A NSW Police spokesperson gave insight into Hibbert’s severe injuries in a statement issued to the public.

“Jack Hibbert was shot while fulfilling his role as a police officer at Bondi Beach,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.

“While serving and protecting the community, Jack sustained two bullet wounds – one to his head and another to his shoulder. Jack was on duty, patrolling the Hanukkah celebration interacting with the community at Bondi Beach, when the incident first occurred.”

Hibbert was rushed to hospital by first responders and admitted to Intensive Care. He has since undergone multiple surgeries, with NSW Police describing his survival as “miraculous”.

“Jack was taken to ICU where he was intubated and underwent multiple surgeries,” a NSW Police spokesperon confirmed.

“Although miraculously surviving, Jack’s injuries have resulted in a loss of vision in one of his eyes and he now faces a long and challenging recovery ahead, with additional surgeries required.”

Jack Hibbert, 22, had only been working for NSW Police for four months when Sunday’s horror terror attack unfolded.

New South Wales Police praised Hibbert for his courage in the face of danger, adding: “Even so, in the face of a violent and tragic incident, he responded with courage, instinct, and selflessness, continuing to protect and help others whilst injured, until he was physically no longer able to.”

“Jack was simply doing his job – a job he deeply loves – driven by a commitment to protect the community, even at great personal cost.

“Many of his colleagues who were present on the night of the incident have visited in hospital and given testaments to Jack’s bravery during the incident, describing his devotion to his community. They described how Jack acted, he moved toward people in need, not away from danger, and continued helping others while seriously injured.”

The Hibbert family are understood to be “beyond grateful” for the support provided by NSW Police and staff at the Sydney hospital to which Jack was admitted.

“We thank the wider community for their kindness, support, and prayers for Jack and our family during this difficult time,” they said in a family statement. “We ask all to respect our privacy as we move through these next stages to support Jack and all his needs to a full recovery.”

The NSW Police update on Jack Hibbert comes a day after NSW Premier Chris Minns lashed out at a journalist at a Sydney press conference following suggestions that cops froze up when confronted by the two gunmen on Sunday. 

“The New South Wales Police acted with bravery and integrity. They engaged the gunmen on the footbridge with handguns,” Minns said on Tuesday.

“They didn’t take a backwards step. The offenders had long range rifles, and New South Wales police officers were responsible for killing one of them and shooting the other one and ,as a result, saved many peoples’ lives.

“There are two officers in critical care in New South Wales hospitals at the moment. They weren’t shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front.

“I’m sorry to be graphic about it but if there is any suggestion that New South Wales police didn’t live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state it should be rejected because it is not consistent with the facts. New South Wales Police officers, some of whom had been in the job for a number of months, put their lives on the line to save people in this state.”

15 innocent people were killed when father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, armed with what police described as “long guns”, opened fire on more than 1,000 people attending a Jewish festival in the Archer Park area of the popular beach at 6.47pm local time on Sunday.

The younger Akram, 24, spent several days in a coma after his alleged involvement in the attacks at Bondi beach. He has now woken from said coma and is being questioned by police, who are expected to charge him over the massacre in the coming days.

He woke up on Tuesday evening local time, and is understood to now be facing criminal charges in relation to the terror incident. 

New South Wales Health said 25 people remain in hospital as of Tuesday afternoon with six in a critical condition. Sajid Akram, 50, was shot by police and died at the scene, but 24-year-old Naveed is expected to survive his injuries and face criminal charges, police said.