A group of barristers, one of whom was pregnant. Two Indian IT workers. A Westpac manager. A university student on a part-time job.

Many were taking part in what is a rite of passage for Sydney office workers — a Monday morning coffee.

It was a ritual that turned to bloodshed in a busy Lindt chocolate shop cafe.

For 16 harrowing hours, 16 brave men and women endured an unimaginable ordeal confronted by a madman with a pump-action shotgun, toying with their lives.

First to escape was 83-year-old retiree John O’Brian.

Wearing a blue blazer, the avid tennis player ran for it as heavily-armed police pointed their guns behind him.

His granddaughter Izzy Perkins said he was “shaken”.

“He’s OK now. But we are just so happy to have him home,” she said.

Barristers Katrina Dawson, Stefan Belafoutis and Julie Taylor knew each other from around Sydney’s tight-knit legal circle.

Ms Dawson, a mother-of-three, would die — believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest — along with 34-year-old cafe manager Tori Johnson.

Ms Taylor, a 35-year-old commercial law specialist who was pregnant, had been having coffee with Ms Dawson, who is understood to have tried to protect her friend from Monis.

A University of Western Australia graduate who was admitted to the NSW Bar in 2007, she worked out of 8 Selbourne Chamber.

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She had been buying a coffee with fellow commercial law specialist, Mr Balafoutis, who works at the nearby Tenth Floor Chambers on Phillip St.

Mr Balafoutis, a barrister of 12 years, was among the first to make a bid for freedom, running into the arms of police.

One hostage, Fiona Ma, somehow managed to post Facebook updates from inside the cafe: “I’m getting your messages everyone! Thank you, you beautiful souls. Guys I love each and every one of you.”

Ms Ma, like fellow hostage and barista Elly Chen who was among the first to flee, was a high-achieving student who won a John Lincoln Youth Community award.

She was also a HSC Distinguished Achiever and All-Round Achiever at James Ruse Agricultural College in Carlingford last year.

Ms Chen, 22, who was the second woman to escape, was forced to hold up the black Islamic flag. A family member at her Western Sydney home said she was recovering at home: “She’s OK.”

Four of the captives worked at Westpac, opposite the cafe.

Marcia Mikhael, a 43-year-old mother from Glenwood in Sydney’s northwest, was forced to make a chilling video on behalf of Monis — and was later shot.

The Westpac project manager whom neighbours described as “outgoing” and kind was yesterday recovering from surgery to a wound to her leg at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Speaking after visiting her, family member George Mikhael said she was in shock.

“She just had an operation on both legs, I think for shrapnel. She’ll be here for a week. She requires skin grafts. She’s still in shock,” he said.

He said she had hid under the table for part of the ordeal.

“She was in the wrong place at the wrong time,’’ he said.

“She’s talking, she’s in shock, we try to change the subject.”

Ms Mikhael had been in the cafe with work colleague, software engineer Viswakanth Ankireddy, 32, from Bella Vista, also in Sydney’s northwest.

Mr Ankireddy, an outstanding student who made his mark in IT while working for multinational tech giant Infosys, was heading a project for Westpac with his friend Puspendu Ghosh.

His father Ankireddy Eswara Reddy told local Indian newspaper The Hindu he received a call from an Infosys staffer telling him Viswakanth was among the hostages.

Mr Ankireddy, who has a five-year-old daughter, attracted the attention of India’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who spoke directly to his wife Bonthu Shilpa as the siege unfolded.

Mr Gosh also escaped unharmed, but was yesterday being treated for trauma. Originally from West Bengal in India, Mr Ghosh was contracted to Westpac in January.

He had been enjoying Australia, recently boasting on his Facebook page about having been skydiving, which he ­described as “awesome”.

His mother Smriti Kana Ghosh had frantically tried to contact her son after Infosys officials informed her he had been among those held hostage. She was told he was fine, but suffering from “trauma”.

A fourth Westpac worker was yet to be identified.

Harriette Denny, 30, a Lindt staffer from Sunshine Coast, was the last few to flee before police launched their assault. Her father Robert, who has spoken to his daughter, told of how he had spent a harrowing night glued to the TV.

“I spoke with her twice today, maybe three times, I can’t remember, and she’s OK. She’s tired, she’s relieved and she’s distressed that her friend the duty manager didn’t make it through,” he said.

Her Facebook friend and fellow staffer, Jarrod Morton-Hoffman, a 19-year-old student at the University of Technology from Bondi, was the youngest of the hostages.

He was also forced to relay Monis’ demands to the media during the stand-off. The Rose Bay Secondary College graduate told The Daily Telegraph and radio 2GB that Monis wanted an IS flag and an audience with Tony Abbott.

As he told The Daily Telegraph and 2GB how Monis had held a gun to his head, his voice grew creaky: “We are all afraid, I don’t think you have ever had a shotgun placed at your head. He’s coming now. Bye”.

Hostage Selina Win Pe contacted The Daily Telegraph to pass on the demands of Monis, before emailing videos of fellow victims.

One elderly woman inside the cafe was understood to have received hospital treatment for a shotgun wound to her shoulder.

Westpac CEO Gail Kelly said it was sad day for Australians but “it is with relief we can confirm this morning that all four of our people are safe”.

HOSTAGES

JOHN O’BRIAN

Distinguishable in his blue blazer, John O’Brian, 83, was the first hostage able to escape from yesterday’s Martin Place siege.

Dramatic video footage from the event shows Mr O’Brian exiting the Lindt Café site seconds ahead of another hostage.

The retired 83 year old hails from the Easter Sydney suburb of Maroubra and is still an enthusiastic tennis player said his granddaughter Izzy Perkins.

“He’s okay now. A little shaken, but we are just so happy to have him home,” said Ms Perkins.

JARROD HOFFMAN

Jarrod Morton Hoffman is a 19-year-old student at the University of Technology.

According to his Facebook page he is from Bondi and graduated from Rose Bay Secondary College in 2013.

He achieved a high score on his HSC and received a distinguished achiever ranking for his HSC marks in advanced English.

FIONA MA

A recent high school graduate from James Ruse Agricultural College in Carlingford she posted emotional messages hours into the siege which generated a flood of support from her friends.

The teenager won a John Lincoln Youth Community award.

She was also a HSC Distinguished Achiever and All-Round Achiever.

Ms Ma remained upbeat hours into the horrifying ordeal.

“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 Ankireddy’s colleague at Infosys, Puspendu Ghosh, also escaped the siege unharmed but was traumatised by the ordeal.

Originally from West Bengal in India, Mr Ghosh had worked for NAB and Telstra before starting work as project manager at Westpac in January.

His mother Smriti Kana Ghosh told the Times of India she was happy and relieved when she finally heard about the safety of her son.

Smriti Kana and her husband Pushpal Ghosh were anxious after the news reached them that their son was being held hostage by a terrorist, The Times reported.

Smriti Kana had frantically tried to call her son.

However, Infosys officials informed her that her son was in a traumatised condition and was undergoing treatment.

They promised to arrange to call once he had recovered from the trauma, The Times reported.

Mr Puspendu had been enjoying his time in Australia, going skydiving in October which he described as an “awesome” experience.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed the safety of both Indians and said they were undergoing medical check-ups.

HARRIETTE DENNY

Harriette Denny, 30, ran from the cafe with five other hostages, just before police launched their assault.

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

“I spoke with her twice today, maybe three times I can’t remember and she’s okay,” he said.

“She’s tired, she’s relieved and she’s distressed that her friend the duty manager didn’t make it through.”

JULIE TAYLOR

Barrister and colleague of Katrina Dawson, 38, who died following the siege.

Ms Taylor was held hostage but survived.

Ms Taylor works at 8 Selborne Chambers.

She specialises in commercial law and was admitted to the NSW Bar in 2007.

Ms Taylor studied at the University of Western Australia and was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 2005.

VISWAKANTH ANKIREDDY

A software engineer from India was among the Lindt cafe hostages to dash to safety.

Viswakanth Ankireddy, 32, was living in Sydney with his wife and young daughter and working for multinational tech giant Infosys.

He was heading a project for Westpack Bank and living in north west Sydney, his father told The Hindu.

Ankireddy Eswara Reddy said his daughter-in-law sent him an SMS saying he was safe after he saw his son escape on TV.

“I received a phone call from an Infosys staffer. He told us that Viswakanth is among those who were held hostage in Sydney. I spoke to Assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and confirmed about the incident and then contacted daughter-in-law Shilpa who is staying with her five-year-old daughter Akshaya in Australia. We told them not to worry,” Mr Eswara Reddy said.

An outstanding student who quickly made a mark in the IT industry, Mr. Viswakanth did his schooling at Korukonda Sainik School, Intermediate at Siddartha College in Guntur before graduating in distinction from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani, The Hindu reported.

He worked in a couple of IT firms in Hyderabad before being employed by Infosys.

KATRINA DAWSON

Respected barrister Katrina Dawson has been confirmed as one of the two hostages killed in this morning’s shoot out at the end of the Lindt siege.

Ms Dawson, a mother of three, died after being rushed by ambulance to Royal Prince Alfred hospital as paramedics fought to save her life.

It is understood she was in the cafe picking up a coffee with a pregnant friend when the gunman burst in.

Ms Dawson, 38, is the sister of high profile barrister Sandy Dawson Jnr, who specialises in media and defamation work and recently appeared for 2GB’s Ray Hadley.

At her chambers on the prestigious 8 Selbourne, stunned colleagues were in tears.

TORI JOHNSON

THE former boss of slain cafe manager Tori Johnson has paid an emotional tribute to the hero of the Martin Place siege.

Peter Manettas, manager of Nick’s Seafood where the 34-year-old worked for six years, described him as a selfless and talented man who was deeply proud of his family and friends.

“He was an amazing person, a selfless person, a person who always put other people before himself,” Mr Manettas told The Daily Telegraph.

“We’re deeply saddened by what’s happened, it’s still sinking in.”

Tori Johnson reportedly died during a heroic final standoff with the gunman, attempting to wrestle the shotgun from his hands.

ELLY CHEN

SEVEN hours after her frightened, grief-stricken face was splashed around the globe, Elly Chen was free, racing down a Sydney street, escaping with her life.

The Lindt Chocolate Cafe barista had become an unlikely pawn in the hands of a terrorist, forced at gunpoint to hold up an Islamic flag in the Martin Place shopfront window.

It was a sign to the world of a grim reality: Islamic fundamentalist terrorism had landed in Sydney.

Ms Chen, 22, was the fifth hostage to escape the gunman who had walked calmly into the cafe — popular with well-heeled bankers, lawyers and tourists — pulled a shotgun from his bag and brought the city to a standstill.

Still dressed in her brown barista apron, Ms Chen escaped from the front door of the cafe, her arms flailing, her face overcome with emotion, as she ran into the embrace of heavily armed tactical response officers.

Her release was met with immense relief by her family and friends who had watched the day of drama, and her escape, live.

“I just saw the wonderful footage that Elly has escaped or has been released. Gosh what a relief,” her friend Bee Doyle told The Daily Telegraph.

Supportive messages flooded the university student’s Facebook page.

Her sister Nicole Chen posted her relief: “Yessss I finally see you. I’m so glad you’re safe!!!!’’

A friend Erica Maroun wrote: “Glad you’re safe Elly! You’re amazingly brave. Keeping you and the rest in my prayers.”

Another friend Angela Lee wrote: “Elly! I prayed for you and so glad that you’re safe.”

Her family had rushed into the city where they had watched the horror unfold while neighbours at the family’s home in Sydney’s west said Ms Chen was a quiet girl.

The clients who she daily served with their morning coffee or hot chocolate at the Lindt cafe spoke of her warm, smiling service.

On top of her work as a barista, she is a student at NSW University and a swimming teacher. A former ace student of Presbyterian Ladies College, she was on the HSC all-round achievers list in 2010, a school prefect and tennis captain.

Moments after the horror unfolded in the cafe, Ms Chen’s hands were pressed up against its window, grasping a flag with Islamic script: “There is no god but Allah. And Muhammed is his messenger.”

STEFAN BALAFOUTIS

Barrister Stefan Balafoutis’ usual morning coffee run put him in the middle of a terrifying hostage siege inside the Lindt Chocolate Café at Martin Place in the Sydney CBD.

Mr Balafoutis was one of five hostages who escaped the cafe after 4pm, as the siege moved into its sixth hour.

The barrister was photographed running towards the safety of a nearby building where a fire door was being held open by an armed police officer.

The officer could be seen aiming his hand gun in the direction of the cafe ready to return fire if the hostage taker attempted to shoot the fleeing barrister.

Mr Balafoutis escaped with an older man who was wearing a blue jacket.

The Daily Telegraph was told Mr Balafoutis had gone to the cafe yesterday morning with a colleague. The Daily Telegraph has chosen not to name the colleague.

Once Mr Balafoutis escaped, his colleagues were sent an email informing them that he was safe, the source said.

Mr Balafoutis could not be reached for comment on his home phone number last night.

MARCIA MIKHAEL

Family members have praised the bravery of the NSW police officers who stormed a Sydney cafe and rescued their relative, who was one of 17 hostages trapped by a lone gunman during a 16-hour siege.

“Thank you God for bringing her out alive!” Amal Helen Mikhael — a relative of Marcia Mikhael, who was taken hostage in the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in the heart of Sydney on Monday morning — wrote on Facebook.

Ms Mikhael is believed to work in Martin Place where the siege took place.

Amal Helen Mikhael said Ms Mikhael was in hospital but was not seriously injured.

“Such bravery from the police who risked their own lives to save others,” she wrote.

“God bless these heroes.” Ms Mikhael’s niece Joanne Mikhael said: “Our prayers have been answered.” Earlier on Monday, a post appeared on Ms Mikhael’s Facebook page revealing she was caught up in the siege.

The chilling post listed the gunman’s demands but was taken down a short time later.

Supporters flooded Ms Mikhael’s page with messages of support after police stormed the cafe and ended the siege in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“I will be praying for you and your family,” one person wrote.

Originally published as The faces of the brave Lindt cafe hostages