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On March 15, 2019, Temel Atacocugu was praying in the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch.

He heard gunshots and turned to lock eyes with the gunman. He saw a puff of smoke from the rifle and then felt a bullet hit his teeth. It was the first of nine bullets to tear through his body.

He believes his survival is a miracle.

Over the last year, Frank Film and Stuff have followed Atacocugu’s long recovery from the physical and mental trauma of the attack.

It is not only the story of how he walked out of the mosque alive on March 15, but what happened next. It is a story of defiance, pilgrimage and healing.

This is a survivor’s story.

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video

01

Return to the mosque

Terror attack survivor Temel Atacocugu returns to the Al Noor Mosque to tell his extraordinary story of survival.

  watch Warning: These videos contain some bad language.

02

Family visit

A survivor stands defiant and a family rushes from Turkey to be with their injured son.

  watch Warning: These video contain some bad language.

03

Heading to Mecca

A pilgrimage to Mecca brings healing and a chance at redemption.

  watch Warning: These videos contain some bad language.

04

Best friend

Temel’s best mate and business partner remembers a desperate search.

  watch Warning: These videos contain some bad language.

05

Returning to Turkey

Temel returns to his Turkish homeland and remembers his childhood.

  watch Warning: These videos contain some bad language.

06

Recovery in Turkey

Temel visits an old friend and learns about the Turkish reaction to March 15.

  watch Warning: These videos contain some bad language.

07

Friday prayers

Nearly one year on, Temel talks to fellow survivors at the Al Noor Mosque.

  watch Warning: These videos contain some bad language.
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credits

Film

Development

Charlie Gates, Gerard Smyth

Management

Jo Ffitch

Photography

Gerard Smyth

Assistant Editors

Charlie Gates, Jendy Harper

Series Commissioner

Carol Hirschfeld

Colourist

Mike Kelland

Audio Post

Chris Sinclair

Original Music

David Long, Riki Gooch

Editor

Oliver Dawe

Wrtiter and Director

Gerard Smyth

Producer

Gerard Smyth

Interactive

Reporter

Charlie Gates

Editorial Supervisor

Kamala Hayman

Designer and Developer

Sungmi Kim

Interactive Editor

Janine Fenwick

Our sincere thanks to Temel Atacocugu and his family

made with the support of NZ On Air

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