![LINDT SIEGE ANNIVERSARY - 'WE'VE SAVED EACH OTHER' LINDT SIEGE ANNIVERSARY - 'WE'VE SAVED EACH OTHER'](https://cdn.magzter.com/1417062475/1670547800/articles/IpY79Wdel1671080984265/LINDT-SIEGE-ANNIVERSARY-WEVE-SAVED-EACH-OTHER.jpg)
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.
This story is from the December 19, 2022 edition of Woman's Day Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 19, 2022 edition of Woman's Day Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![ANNA SAMSON 'MURDER'S ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME' ANNA SAMSON 'MURDER'S ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/GWCeXOKCr1725877503596/ANNA-SAMSON-MURDERS-ALWAYS-INTRIGUED-ME.jpg)
ANNA SAMSON 'MURDER'S ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME'
We hit the set of the sunny spin-off to Death In Paradise and meet the cast!
![5 minutes With...ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH 5 minutes With...ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/TYKzAHOpG1725877313463/5-MINUTES-WITHALEXANDER-MCCALL-SMITH.jpg)
5 minutes With...ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH
His No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series has a new instalment
![Rolling the DICE Rolling the DICE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/2lThR-dBf1725877073634/ROLLING-THE-DICE.jpg)
Rolling the DICE
Hobart's iconic Wrest Point Hotel Casino is looking better than ever
![UNDERSTANDING PALLIATIVE CARE UNDERSTANDING PALLIATIVE CARE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/gvftGx8Vh1725876790254/UNDERSTANDING-PALLIATIVE-CARE.jpg)
UNDERSTANDING PALLIATIVE CARE
Quality of life is at the forefront of this approach
![OUR TOWN'S A MOVIE STAR! OUR TOWN'S A MOVIE STAR!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/8Ft_mdcr21725876572904/OUR-TOWNS-A-MOVIE-STAR.jpg)
OUR TOWN'S A MOVIE STAR!
When Runt arrived in town, locals couldn't wait to play a part!
![ANNA HEINRICH 'I LOVE BEING A GIRL MUM!' ANNA HEINRICH 'I LOVE BEING A GIRL MUM!'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/raJ9y5zdq1725876382979/ANNA-HEINRICH-I-LOVE-BEING-A-GIRL-MUM.jpg)
ANNA HEINRICH 'I LOVE BEING A GIRL MUM!'
The mum-of-two speaks with affection about her daughters
![KEITH TELLS NICOLE I WANT TO BE YOUR NEXT LEADING MAN!' KEITH TELLS NICOLE I WANT TO BE YOUR NEXT LEADING MAN!'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/dXUFOhbK51725876148997/KEITH-TELLS-NICOLE-I-WANT-TO-BE-YOUR-NEXT-LEADING-MAN.jpg)
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
![GUY TAKES A STAND 'I WANT JESS BACK! GUY TAKES A STAND 'I WANT JESS BACK!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/spki7JUCG1725875162610/GUY-TAKES-A-STAND-I-WANT-JESS-BACK.jpg)
GUY TAKES A STAND 'I WANT JESS BACK!
The Voice Australia gets an ultimatum from its number-one coach Guy Sebastian
![THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back! THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/igOOpmciW1725875023348/THE-BRAD-GEORGE-SHOW-IS-BACK.jpg)
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!
![ED SHEERAN'S SHOCK FAMILY FEUD ED SHEERAN'S SHOCK FAMILY FEUD](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8297/1826438/RBmts4O_D1725874894821/ED-SHEERANS-SHOCK-FAMILY-FEUD.jpg)
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!