He was dubbed ‘the bollard man’ and a hero who tried to stop the killer during his stabbing spree on in Australia Westfield shopping centre. Damien Guerot has now reportedly been offered Australian citizenship.

His image went viral and for a while people wondered who French man, Damien Guerot was as he was seen face-to-face with Joel Cauchi, who stabbed shoppers at a Sydney shopping centre whom police now say was targeting women during attack eventually killing six people and injuring 12 others before he was shot dead by a police officer.

Guerot, who is on a work visa in Australia due to expire in a few months, said he and a friend, Silas Despreaux, both construction workers, had just launched into action without thinking – acting on pure adrenalin.

They then directed Inspector Amy Scott to the attacker whom she shot as he lunged at her with the knife, killing him.

“She was actually the hero, she did the job,” Guerot says. “We just did what we did.”

Inspector Scott has been hailed for her actions nationally – by the Australian government, police force and wider public. She has declined to speak publicly so far.

Joel Cauchi, 40, fatally stabbed six people and injured 12 others, including a nine-month-old baby, before he was shot dead by a police officer.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed Mr Guerot’s “extraordinary bravery” and said he was welcome to stay in the country “for as long as you like”.