Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert was shot twice during the Bondi Beach attack. Photo: NSW Police
The second police officer injured in the terrorist attack at Australia's Bondi Beach has been identified as a 22-year-old probationary constable who had been in the force for just four months.
In a statement, Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert's family said he was patrolling the Chanukah by the Sea event on Sunday when he was shot twice attempting to take down gunmen Sajid and Naveed Akram.
He was taken to ICU where he was intubated and underwent multiple surgeries, his family said.
"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," the family statement said.
"Jack is just 22-years-old and has only been in the police force for four months.
"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."
Probationary Constable Hibbert is one of two officers currently receiving treatment after being struck defending the public at the weekend.
'Devotion to his community'
Constable Scott Dyson remains in hospital recovering from his injuries.
He had been attached to the Eastern Suburbs Command for 18 months when the chaos unfolded.
In the statement from Constable Hibbert's loved ones, his family paid tribute to his colleagues who have visited him in intensive care and the health professionals caring for him.
"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 said.
"They described how Jack acted, he moved toward people in need, not away from danger, and continued helping others while seriously injured."
It comes and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told 702 ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday morning that he expected gunman Naveed Akram to be charged today after waking from a coma on Tuesday.
When asked about police issuing pistols as standard and not long-arm firearms, the commissioner defended the use of handguns.
"Handguns have been the appropriate weapons for operational police. There is little doubt this is completely out of character," he said.
"The type of offence, the disgraceful activity we saw on Sunday, is something that is very new for NSW.
"We do have highly-trained police that have long arms, but operational police have traditionally carried firearms."
- ABC