Scrambled on a Monday morning to go to Martin Place, Ben, and his Tactical Operations Officer (TOU) colleagues realise this is terrorism in the CBD of Australia's largest city. It goes on and on, and as hours pass, they learn more about the terrorist and the hostages.

When day turns to night, and shocked hostages continue to escape, Ben worries that frustration and fatigue may have an influence on terrorist Man Monis’s actions.

Scrambled on a Monday morning to go to Martin Place, Ben, and his Tactical Operations Officer (TOU) colleagues realise this is terrorism in the CBD of Australia's largest city. It goes on and on, and as hours pass, they learn more about the terrorist and the hostages.
When day turns to night, and shocked hostages continue to escape, Ben worries that frustration and fatigue may have an influence on terrorist Man Monis’s actions.

The Lindt siege was the bravest day in Ben Besant’s life, and the worst. He faced and killed a shotgun wielding terrorist, but then learnt his actions contributed to the accidental death of a hostage. He believes another hostage died because he and his colleagues didn’t get there in time. As a Tactical Operations Officer (TOU), Ben and his mates were more prepared for their own deaths than those of hostages. He’d texted his goodbyes to his wife.

Ben’s training for that moment and family pedigree of service are typical of so many young Australians prepared to risk their lives responding to life threatening situations. His life since is also a cautionary example of the personal cost, as the damage of all the trauma he’d faced landed squarely on his family.

The Lindt siege was the bravest day in Ben Besant’s life, and the worst. He faced and killed a shotgun wielding terrorist, but then learnt his actions contributed to the accidental death of a hostage. He believes another hostage died because he and his colleagues didn’t get there in time. As a Tactical Operations Officer (TOU), Ben and his mates were more prepared for their own deaths than those of hostages. He’d texted his goodbyes to his wife.
Ben’s training for that moment and family pedigree of service are typical of so many young Australians prepared to risk their lives responding to life threatening situations. His life since is also a cautionary example of the personal cost, as the damage of all the trauma he’d faced landed squarely on his family.

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