Anxiety as family is separated in attack

Nick Handler was sitting in a café with his two-year-old daughter, Julia, when the assault on the mall started.

“All of a sudden I heard a loud explosion followed by gun shots. I immediately grabbed her. Luckily it was right by the door and we were able to sprint out of the cafe and run across the mall,” he told ABC News by phone.

At the same time, his wife Lyndsay — eight months pregnant — was one floor below. Amid the chaos, the family was separated.

“That was just the most terrifying thing for her, not being with us and having no idea what was happening,” Mr Handler said.

Father and daughter hid in a storage room with about 40 other people.

“I had been tucked into the back corner with Julia trying to hide in case somebody did come in there,” he said. “We were about halfway across the room and suddenly people started rushing back in and there were screams so we all ran back.

“This was a terrifying moment, not knowing if perhaps the people who had left had encountered some of the attackers who were then coming into the area where we were hiding,” Mr Handler said.

Young Julia spent the whole time pressed up against her dad’s side. Lyndsay hid in the movie theatre, then made it to the roof with another group. After hours of agonising waiting, she was rescued by police who led her down a fire escape to safety. About 90 minutes later, Nick Handler and Julia were rescued by plain clothes police.

Outside, the young family shared an emotional reunion.