Sydney siege survivors: Who were the hostages?

Man Haron Monis, an Iranian-born cleric on bail for a string of violent offences, held a total of 17 people hostage in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in central Sydney.

Two hostages - cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, and barrister Katrina Dawson, 38 - were killed, as was the gunman himself.

Here's what we know about some of the other 15 hostages who were caught up in the ordeal but survived.

John O'Brien

John O'Brien, 82, says that during the siege Man Haron Monis demanded that he lie on the floor.

But Mr O'Brien refused and told his captor that he was too old to lie on the floor.

Mr O'Brien says he has never felt as much relief as he did when he "turned that corner and saw the armed police waiting for me".

Stefan Balafoutis

Stefan Balafoutis, a Sydney lawyer, escaped from the cafe along with John O'Brien and cafe worker Paolo Vassallo just after 3.30pm (AEDT) on Monday.

Mr Balafoutis works at nearby Corrs Chambers Westgarth in their commercial litigation and trade practices groups.

Elly Chen

Elly Chen was a staff member at the Lindt cafe and was in the second group of hostages to escape from the cafe on Monday afternoon.

Her social media accounts state she is a University of NSW student studying a Bachelor of Commerce.

Jieun Bae

Jieun Bae worked at the Lindt cafe and escaped with her colleague Elly Chen about 5.00pm on Monday afternoon.

The look of terror on her face was captured on camera as news of the siege spread around the world.

The 20-year-old told SBS news that she thought she "would die in there" and she "can't believe what happened to [her boss] Tori [Johnson]."

Marcia Mikhael

Marcia Mikhael, a 43-year-old mother of three and Westpac employee, was carried out of the Lindt cafe by police.

It is believed she is being treated at the Royal North Shore Hospital for a gunshot wound to the leg and is in a stable condition.

Marcia appeared in one of the hostage videos uploaded on Monday night during the siege. She also released a message on social media during the siege asking for the demands of the hostage taker to be met.

Many of her family members live in Ontario, Canada.

Julie Taylor

Julie Taylor is a barrister at Eight Selborne Chambers and a colleague of Katrina Dawson, who died in the Martin Place siege.

It is understood Ms Taylor was at the cafe with Ms Dawson.

Ms Taylor appeared in one of the hostage videos uploaded during the siege.

Harriette Denny

Harriette Denny, 30, worked at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe and ran from the building with five other hostages just before police launched their assault.

Her father, Robert Denny, said his family spent an anxious night watching the events unfold on television but had since spoken with his daughter.

"She's OK, she's tired, she's relieved," he said, adding she was distressed that duty manager Tori Johnson did not make it out.

Viswakanth Ankireddy

Indian IT company Infosys released a statement late yesterday saying one of its employees was among the hostages at the Lindt cafe in Sydney.

The statement said family members of the employee had been informed and the company was extending all possible support to them.

Joel Herat

Hostage videos appeared on a YouTube account in the name of Joel Herat late last night before they were taken down by YouTube.

Mr Herat was a staff member at the cafe.

Paolo Vassallo

Paolo Vassallo, a married father of three, worked at the cafe and was one of the first hostages to escape on Monday afternoon.

He was reunited with family members after being taken to hospital for observation last night because of a pre-existing condition.

Fiona Ma

Fiona Ma is a student at the University of Queensland in Brisbane but was working at the Lindt cafe while back in Sydney on the summer uni holidays.

She posted to her Facebook page after the incident to reassure her friends: "I'm getting your messages everyone!! Thank you, you beautiful souls.

"Guys, I love each and every one of you."

Jarrod Hoffman

Jarrod Hoffman, a 19-year-old University of Technology, Sydney student, worked part-time at the Lindt cafe.

Friends have told the ABC he was one of the last to leave the cafe and was taken to hospital on Tuesday morning.

Puspendu Ghosh

IT manager Puspendu Ghosh was one of four Westpac workers taken hostage at the Lindt cafe.

He escaped in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with police escorting him from the scene.

Westpac CEO Gail Kelly said: "My heart goes out to anyone touched by this tragedy."

Selina Win Pe

Selina Win Pe was one of four Westpac workers caught up in the siege.

She was also one of four hostages forced to record video messages at the request of their captor on Monday night as he struggled to get the attention of authorities and have his demands met.

Ms Win Pe attends St Peters Anglican Church at Cremorne. The church and her family have asked for privacy.