Sunrise co-host David Koch shares his Christmas message in the wake of the Sydney siege

SUNRISE co-host David Koch has opened up about the tragic outcome of the Sydney siege and the difficulties he’s had returning to work.

AS we near the end of what has been a truly devastating week for not only Sydneysiders, but all Australians, rocked by the tragedy of the Martin Place siege, it is now more important than ever to embrace Christmas. Sunrise co-host David Koch tells us why.

Four days after the Lindt cafe siege ended in the early hours of Tuesday morning and the site of the terror attack that has now become a sea of floral tributes. Kochie, who witnessed the siege from Channel 7’s headquarters in Sydney’s CBD and reported on the events as they unfolded, says he finds it hard to talk about what happened.

“You walk around Martin Place right now and it is just so emotional, it is really hard to talk because you just have a lump in your throat and are surrounded by incredible emotion,” he told news.com.au.

“It has just been so devastatingly sad in Sydney this week and right around the country. What happened in the Martin Place siege — we report on similar events like that overseas all the time, never, ever, thinking it would come to Australia.

“It has rocked us to the core, it has rocked everyone to the core, the tragic deaths of two of the hostages, the terror of the surviving hostages,” the Sunrise host continued.

Mark Beretta, Sam Armytage, David Koch and Natalie Barr will host Carols in the Domain.

Kochie, who will host this year’s annual Carols in the Domain tonight along with the rest of the Sunrise team, says the spirit of Christmas is a firm reminder of what is important.

“That’s why I think the carols are a great reflection of that and a great reminder of that and we need reminding of that this week, more than any other year.

“Tuesday night after what happened I think every Australian would have gone home and hugged their loved ones and it’s a terrible consequence of the tragedy that it reminds us of our priorities in life. It is not work and social media and that sort of thing, and I think that’s what Christmas does.”

Kochie surprises his grandkids with Christmas presents at his home.

The carols, Australia’s largest, free Chrissy family event, came under review earlier this week in the wake of the tragedy, with concerned fans asking if it would still go ahead. Organisers confirmed via Facebook that the televised celebration will still proceed.

“I think what carols does is bring us together, and there’s a sense of community, of being together and getting through this together and that is just shown with the flowers in Martin Place. People want to be together and grieve together the loss of innocence,” Kochie said.

“We live in a pretty privileged country and sometimes we forget that and Saturday says we can get through this together, we’re not going to let mad men govern what we do.

“If we stop doing what we do here in Australia and we change our lives and we change what we stand for, mongrels like this guy earlier in the week have actually succeeded in wanting us to change our lives and we’ve got to stand up for that.”

Kochie and his grandkids, Oscar, Jax, Lila and Matilda posing in their Xmas jammies.

The proud grandfather of four adorable little ones added that his entire family, some of whom have flown in from Hong Kong, will be front and centre at the carols.

“We’re a very close family, we go nuts at Christmas. Tuesday after I finished doing the show, I went home and did Christmas colouring with the kids. It was exactly what I needed because that’s what it’s all about and that’s what we’re protecting as a society and a way of life — that my grandkids grow up in a country that we all know and love.

“Christmas has always been incredibly important, and I find that it balances you for the rest of the year, you take a deep breath and appreciate what you’ve got.”

The 32nd annual Carols will feature a special tribute to the victims of the siege, 38-year-old mother of three Katrina Dawson and 34-year-old Lindt store manager Tori Johnson.

The event, which is broadcast around the nation and attracts more than 50,000 people in the Domain, has a celebrity line up this year including Samantha Jade, Dami Im, Taylor Henderson, Lee Kernaghan, The Wiggles, Marlisa and more. Sam Armytage, Nat Barr and Mark Beretta will also host.

Woolworths’ Carols in the Domain airs Saturday, 8.30pm on Seven.

Children lay flowers at the scene of the Lindt cafe siege in Sydney’s CBD.