Madeleine Pulver, who spent 10 hours trapped with a bomb chained to her neck is well and in good spirits but she is "tired and sore," said her father, William.

A masked attacker broke into the 18-year old's Mosman home on Sydney's lower north shore and attached a device that was thought to be a bomb to her neck on Wednesday afternoon. Madeleine was finally freed around midnight after bomb disposal experts removed the fake bomb after ten hours.

In a press conference, William Pulver thanked police and their friends for their support. He also appealed to the press to let his family get back to their lives after the horrific ordeal.

"From our family's perspective we are clearly extremely eager for our lives to return to normal," Mr. Pulver told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.

"We have a daughter on the cusp of doing HSC exams ... Our appeal to you is that you request our privacy after this and leave us to get on with our lives."

The relieved father thanked everyone involved in the operation, including police, hospital staff and emergency workers.

"You are a wonderful group of people; you were an extraordinary support and comfort to my daughter last night."

Maddy he said is doing well and has woken up this morning in good spirits.

"She is a little tired, a little sore from holding this damned device in place for about ten hours."

Detective Superintendent Luke Moore says police are going to thoroughly investigate the incident. He didn't reveal what was in the letter of demand attached to the hoax bomb.

"It's very early stages in the investigation. I can tell you that we are still conducting extensive forensic examinations at the family home," he said.

"We have some initial lines of inquiry that we are following up and we will continue to do so."

The police are hunting for the suspect and have launched a manhunt.