Seven hours after her frightened, grief-stricken face was splashed around the globe, Elly Chen was free, scampering down a Sydney street, escaping with her life.
The Lindt Cafe barista had become an unlikely pawn in the hands of a maddened terror suspect, forced to hold up an Islamic sign in the Martin Place shopfront window, unwittingly announcing to the world that terrorism had, indeed, landed in Sydney.
Ms Chen was the fourth hostage to escape the grasps of the gunman who had stormed into the cafe, popular with well-healed bankers, lawyers and tourists, 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 the tactical response officers embraced her.
Her release was met with immense relief by her family and friends that had watched the escape live, flooding the Sydney girl's Facebook page in support.
