A group of teenagers from the Ulladulla area are safe and well after leaving Sydney's Martin Place only minutes before a siege began.
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Up to five students from Milton-Ulladulla were part of a two-day St John's the Evangelist High School excursion to Sydney.
Some of the year nine and 10 students had sent photos of themselves with the Sunrise television crew in Martin Place only minutes before coverage of the siege began.
One of the parents, Jeff Thoroughgood, said his daughter Paris and her classmates were safe and had returned to their accommodation in Randwick.
Mr Thoroughgood said he had been in contact with his daughter who said the school group was returning to accommodation would not be returning to the city again until the crisis was over, if at all.
"She said it was frightening to know this was happening right alongside them," Mr Thoroughgood said.
The students were sightseeing and shopping in the CBD and visited venues including Martin Place, Madam Tussauds and Darling Harbour.
As part of the excursion the students watched Channel 7's Sunrise program being filmed this morning at the Channel 7 studio in Martin Place.
Principal Neil McCann said the group had decided to "take stock and reassess their plan".
He said the school was keeping in constant contact with the group and the Catholic Education Office was aware of the situation.
"I would doubt they will be able to go home as they would have to go back to Central Station to catch the train," Mr McCann said.
Mr McCann said some of the 30 students had met with their parents who worked in the CBD.
He said one of the teachers at the excursion phoned very soon after the siege began to let him know everyone was fine and they were no longer near Martin Place.
The group has booked overnight accommodation in Randwick and is due to return to Nowra tomorrow.
The area was shut down after woman raised the alarm at 9.44am when she saw a man outside the Lindt Chocolat Cafe carrying a blue sports bag with a gun inside.
The gunman stormed the busy cafe in Martin Place and took customers and staff hostage.
Full story: http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2764881/st-johns-students-safe-update/?cs=203
