Sydney siege hostages speak about ordeal
The first hostage to escape the Sydney siege on Monday has spoken about the ordeal.
Fit and healthy John O'Brien, 83, was the first hostage to run out of the cafe on Monday afternoon, wearing a distinctive blue blazer.
He told 7News this morning: "I've never felt so much relief as I have when I turned the corner and saw the armed police waiting for me. I am so grateful to be home with my lovely wife Moreen and I would like to thank the media who remains respectful.
“All I was doing on that Monday morning was going down for a quick coffee at the Lindt coffee shop after having gone to the eye doctor to have an eye check-up.”
Mr O'Brien revealed he would be playing a game of tennis after giving his statement and then resting to try and get over the ordeal.
Mr O'Brien had told the ABC that the Sheikh had demanded he hold up an Islamic shahada flag against the window - but the elderly man said he was too tired.
He also reportedly refused to lie on the floor for the gunman, telling him he was 'too old', reports Daily Mail Australia.
An image has been released of hostage Marcia Mikhael recovering in hospital.
The image was sent to 7News with the message: "In hospital recovering and re-united with her brother Jorge. She was very blessed and thankful for everyone's prayers during the siege."
Further details have been released about the other hostages who survived 17 harrowing hours held against their will by a gunman in Martin Place cafe.
Hostage Hariette Denny, 30, who worked at the the Lindt cafe, paid an emotional visit to the scene in Martin Place on Wednesday with her fiance Jorge Bonora.
Mr Bonora told news.com.au on behalf of his distraught partner: "They’re not going well, it's going to get worse before it gets better.
"The loss of everything, the whole situation was uncalled for"
He also paid tribute to Mr Johnson who was loved by everyone and 'a good leader'.
Marcia Mikhael
Occupation: Westpac employee
The 43-year-old mother of three was carried out of the Lindt cafe by police.
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
Occupation: Barrister
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.
Elly Chen
Occupation: Student and Lindt cafe staff member
Elly Chen 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.
Harriette Denny
Occupation: Lindt cafe staff member
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
Occupation: IT worker
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
Occupation: Lindt cafe staff member
Hostage videos appeared on a YouTube account in the name of Joel Herat late last night before they were taken down by YouTube.
Paolo Vassallo
Occupation: Lindt cafe staff member
Paolo Vassallo, a married father of three, was one of the first hostages to escape from the cafe on Monday afternoon.
He was reunited with family members after being taken to hospital for observation last night because of a pre-existing condition.
Police also released information about the victims who became injured after the Martin Place siege ended in violent gunfire.
Selina Win Pe
Selina was also filmed asking for assistance. She is a Westpac employee and also is a senior server at St Peter's Anglican Church.
“The Brother has looked after us all, we are all very, very tired,” she said.
“We’ve got pregnant ladies in here and sick and elderly and the very, very young staff who deserve to have a decent normal life."
Jarrod Hoffman
Jarrod was the youngest of the hostages and he was forced to relay the gunman's demands to the media.
He's a university student at the University of Technology in Sydney and previously attended school at Rose Bay Secondary College.
Fiona Ma
This recent high school graduate from James Ruse Agricultural College in Carlingford has thanked friends for support on her Facebook account.
“I’m getting your messages everyone! Thank you, you beautiful souls,” she posted on her Facebook page yesterday afternoon.
“Guys I love each and every one of you.”
Puspendu Ghosh
Mr Ghosh is a colleague of Mr Ankireddy at Infosys and is from India. According to reports. he has been enjoying the Sydney lifestyle by taking up scuba diving and going sky diving.
His mother told the Times of India of how relieved she and her husband are of hearing that her son was alright.
He is being treated for trauma.
Stefan Balafoutis
Mr Balafoutis was the second hostage who escaped from the siege on Monday afternoon.
He is a barrister and was having coffee with a colleague when the gunman entered the cafe.
