From Hans Kunnen, September 2001

Having read the various other stories, I want to add my own angle.

I was alone in New York with only the clothes I was standing in. It was
my first visit to the United States.

When the second plane hit, it became apparent to me that this was an act
of terror. People were walking in all directions, vendors were even
pushing their trolleys towards the Towers.

I figured that catching a cab or bus was hopeless and I didn't want to
go underground. I chose South and the Staten Island Ferry.

All was fairly calm at the ferry terminal as we waited patiently for the
ferry doors to open.

Just before the doors opened we heard and felt the rumble of a falling
tower. There were screams and shouts of terror but no stampede. As I
sat on the ferry the cloud of ash and dust enveloped us. We breathed
through handkerchiefs and most people put on life jackets.

I had offered a lady my seat but she declined. I then picked up her
ear-ring which had fallen off as she put on her life jacket. Noting my
NABE badge with Sydney, Australia written on it, she asked where I was
planning to stay. I was planning to knock on the door of a church but instead
the lady, Leslie Defreitas (defrele@ffhsj.com) of law firm Fried Frank
Harris Shirver and Jacobsen invited me to her Staten Island home (along with
another young man and another lady).

Leslie and her husband Rod looked after us all. We used their phones to
contact loved ones and we were graciously tended to.

Mark and Paulette managed to leave later on Tuesday but I spent two days
with Leslie and Rod. They lent me clothes, let me use their phone, kept
me company, took me to the park and guided me through my distress. Leslie
in her calm efficient way, organised accommodation at the NY Hilton so I
would be closer to the Australian Consulate and JFK airport.

I finally caught a flight back to Australia on Monday evening to a
tearful reunion.

I could say more - but there is work to do.

My best wishes to NABE.

Hans Kunnen
Head of Investment Markets Research
Colonial First State Investments (Australia)