Sydney siege: Barista's dash to safety

Elly Chen flees from the cafe under siege. Photo / AP

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.

Friend Bee Doyle told The Daily Telegraph: "I just saw the wonderful footage that Elly has escaped or has been released. Gosh what a relief".

Her sister Nicole Chen posted her relief on Facebook. "Yessss I finally see you. I'm so glad you're safe!!!!"

On top of her work as a Lindt Cafe barista, where she is renowned for her warm, smiling service, the Granville resident is a current student at NSW University and a former ace student of Presbyterian Ladies College.

Moments after the horror unfolded in the popular chocolate cafe, Ms Chen's hands were pressed up against its window, grasping a sign with Islamic script: "There is no god by Allah. And Muhammad is his messenger."

Her eyes closed. Her legendary smile, replaced by the unfathomable fear and anxiety, her fate in the hands of a terrorist.

Friends on social media posted the photo in disbelief, asking the question, hoping for a different answer.

"Elllyy?!!!! Please don't be true!!!! Making so many prayers it's not xxx" Bee Doyle posted.

"Fkkk im so worried about you atm! Please be safe!! Work told me not to come into martin place atm but mitch and nick swear they saw you cause I know you're working at lindt today!" her fellow Lindt employee Nicole Chang said.

- news.com.au