We can’t imagine that being taken hostage is particularly enjoyable, especially by a crazed gunman seeking to avenge some offensive cartoons by offing people with two Kalashnikov rifles.

Self-professed ISIS member Amedy Coulibaly stormed a Parisian deli on Friday, killing three hostages on the spot and taking many others.

Luckily, through the heroic actions of employee Lassana Bathily, some of those in the shop were able to escape into a freezer:

Mr Bathily, a Muslim of Malian descent, guided the terrified group of men, women and at least two young children, to the walk-in freezer in the basement.

He said: ‘I turned off the lights and the fridge. I closed the door and told them to keep quiet.’ Mr Bathily then slipped away using a goods lift and was able to provide police with valuable information about what has happening inside the store.

It was here that they hid in the sub-zero conditions, attempting to send messages and make calls to loved ones they feared may be their last.

Once Coulibaly became aware of the hostages hiding in the freezer he demanded they emerge, shooting dead another employee who attempted to wrestle the gun from his control.

The hostages were eventually rescued after a police siege on the deli, with the hostages’ relief plain to see.

I suppose it puts those Monday ‘staring at the clock with one eye’ blues into perspective, doesn’t it.

Check out the full story and more pics at the Daily Mail.