Woman Describes Surviving Sydney Hostage Crisis While Pregnant

— -- A barista who was trapped inside a Sydney, Australia chocolate shop during a deadly hostage crisis in December said in a new interview that "the pure love and happiness" of being pregnant helped her through the ordeal.

Harriette Denny said in an exclusive report on Australian 9 News' "60 Minutes" that she was secretly 14 weeks pregnant when suspected gunman Man Haron Monis burst into the Lindt Chocolat Cafe on December 15, taking employees and customers hostage.

Denny, 30, said she did not tell the gunman she was pregnant, even when he had a weapon drawn, because she wanted to tell her family first.

"I remember sitting down and I thought I had a sense of calm. I started to be grateful for my family, for my partner and my friends and the fact that I know that maybe I won't be able to have this baby," Denny said in the exclusive interview.

"I was very grateful that I was able to experience the pure love and happiness of being pregnant so at that time I remember thinking if he shoots me, as long as I don't feel it or see it coming I'd be OK with it," she said.

Denny told 9 News that she secretly called her partner Jorge.

"I didn't think I was coming out," Denny said. "You always think that you're not going to come out."

The 17-hour siege ended when police stormed the cafe.

Two hostages and the gunman died during the siege. Tori Johnson, a manager of the store, was killed, according to Lindt Chocolate Cafe Australia. The other hostage who was killed was identified as attorney and mother of three Katrina Dawson, 38, according to the New South Wales Bar Association.

Six people at the scene were treated for injuries.

In total, Monis held 17 people hostage, though up to 12 of those individuals escaped the store before police began their assault.

Monis was believed to be a self-proclaimed Islamic "sheikh" who was known to Australian police because he was allegedly involved in dozens of counts of sexual assault, according to 9News. He was born in Iran as Manteghi Bourjerdi and migrated to Australia in 1996, according to the station.

Click here for 9 News and to see the full interview.