LINDT SIEGE ANNIVERSARY - 'WE'VE SAVED EACH OTHER'
Woman's Day Australia|December 19, 2022
Eight years on, survivor Louisa Hope has forged an unlikely friendship with her saviour, Officer A
LINDT SIEGE ANNIVERSARY - 'WE'VE SAVED EACH OTHER'

Louisa Hope can still remember the moment she first saw the man better known as Officer A.

It was December 16, 2014, and she was one of 18 hostages being held by a lone terrorist in the Lindt cafe in Sydney's Martin Place.

Officer A, or Ben, was one of two Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) officers who shot and killed Man Haron Monis after a 16-hour stand-off.

Sitting beside each other at Louisa's Sydney home eight years later, it's hard to imagine the pair being embroiled in such a life-or-death experience.

"That one moment in time bonds you in such a peculiar way and I now feel completely safe with him, I can trust him with anything, Louisa, 60, tells Woman's Day.

"When the police came in to rescue us, it was incredibly overwhelming. I thought I was going to die." In the first hours of the siege, Ben and his fellow officers arrived on the scene and peered into the cafe window.

"I remember seeing Louisa and the way [the gunman] was terrorising and treating these people," says Ben, 41.

"It made it very personal. After seeing that, I was desperate to go in, but I wasn't allowed to." At 2.13am, nearly 16 hours after the siege began, officers entered the cafe and killed Monis. Louisa was caught in the crossfire and suffered shrapnel injuries to her foot.

Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2022 de Woman's Day Australia.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2022 de Woman's Day Australia.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE WOMAN'S DAY AUSTRALIAVer todo
ANNA SAMSON 'MURDER'S ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME'
Woman's Day Australia

ANNA SAMSON 'MURDER'S ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME'

We hit the set of the sunny spin-off to Death In Paradise and meet the cast!

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 16, 2024
5 minutes With...ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH
Woman's Day Australia

5 minutes With...ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

His No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series has a new instalment

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 16, 2024
Rolling the DICE
Woman's Day Australia

Rolling the DICE

Hobart's iconic Wrest Point Hotel Casino is looking better than ever

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 16, 2024
UNDERSTANDING PALLIATIVE CARE
Woman's Day Australia

UNDERSTANDING PALLIATIVE CARE

Quality of life is at the forefront of this approach

time-read
3 minutos  |
September 16, 2024
OUR TOWN'S A MOVIE STAR!
Woman's Day Australia

OUR TOWN'S A MOVIE STAR!

When Runt arrived in town, locals couldn't wait to play a part!

time-read
3 minutos  |
September 16, 2024
ANNA HEINRICH 'I LOVE BEING A GIRL MUM!'
Woman's Day Australia

ANNA HEINRICH 'I LOVE BEING A GIRL MUM!'

The mum-of-two speaks with affection about her daughters

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 16, 2024
KEITH TELLS NICOLE I WANT TO BE YOUR NEXT LEADING MAN!'
Woman's Day Australia

KEITH TELLS NICOLE I WANT TO BE YOUR NEXT LEADING MAN!'

He's sick of playing second fiddle to a string of hunky co-stars

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 16, 2024
GUY TAKES A STAND 'I WANT JESS BACK!
Woman's Day Australia

GUY TAKES A STAND 'I WANT JESS BACK!

The Voice Australia gets an ultimatum from its number-one coach Guy Sebastian

time-read
2 minutos  |
September 16, 2024
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Woman's Day Australia

THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!

Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!

time-read
1 min  |
September 16, 2024
ED SHEERAN'S SHOCK FAMILY FEUD
Woman's Day Australia

ED SHEERAN'S SHOCK FAMILY FEUD

He's often seen as one of the nicest guys in music, but Ed Sheeran's cousin has exposed their secret feud - and claimed that Ed has even made legal threats against him!

time-read
1 min  |
September 16, 2024