THREE Australians trapped in the Trident Orient Hotel while terrorists and soldiers fought around them have arrived home, telling of their terrifying escape through corridors strewn with the bodies of the victims.

After a three-day ordeal Debra Bayne, a Sydney businesswoman, Drew Dickson, an architect, and Ross Jarman, a business director, touched down in Sydney last night and were greeted by family and friends.

Emotional and tired, the three members of a trade delegation were given a two-hour debriefing and trauma counselling session by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"I'm just incredibly, incredibly glad to be home," Ms Bayne told the Herald after being whisked out of the airport by police.

"I'm going to take a deep breath and try to come to terms with what happened, what I saw."

Having barricaded themselves in their room for 16 hours, covering themselves with sheets and cushions, Ms Bayne and Mr Dickson were finally rescued by commandos whom they had mistaken for terrorists.

"When they finally smashed through the window these men in full black with guns - that's when I wasn't sure whether I was going to see home again," Ms Bayne said.

"It was only when I tried to hide my phone and they said, 'Madam, you can take your phone with you' that I realised who they were."

What followed was a harrowing descent to the ground floor in almost complete darkness.

"Down 19 floors in the dark with terrorists still on the lose in the hotel - it was horrible. We saw a number of bodies lying in the corridors; I don't know how many. Frightened doesn't begin to describe how I was feeling."

Ms Bayne said those responsible for the attacks were "full of hate".

"Those people have ceased to be human beings. All they are interested in is death and pain and hate."

She described those who saved them and those they met upon leaving the hotel as incredible.

Another Australian, Garrick Harvison, was expected to leave the hotel last night after being taken to a holding area by the authorities.