New York rail ride puts Kiwi on edge of his seat

By DANIEL JACKSON

New York is beginning to feel safe again for ex-pat Kiwi Richard Dann except for when he rides the train to Manhattan.

Mr Dann, aged 28, escaped from the train station beneath the World Trade Center after the first jet hit on September 12 (NZ time).

As he ran from the station he saw the second plane hit the other tower and watched as people leaped to their death to escape the flames.

He had used the station daily on his way to and from where he works as a computer software developer at a bank in Manhattan.

If he had used the train any later on the day of the attack he might still be trapped beneath the rubble.

Mr Dann returned to work last Monday and still rides the train, beneath the Hudson River, from the New Jersey home he shares with his New Zealand wife, Teresa, and their 3-month-old son.

He said people were still nervous but the only time he felt unsafe was when he got back on the train, which he worried might be a target.

The topic of conversation in his office has centred on how the United States will respond.

"Maybe it might subside but last week there was a big cry for revenge. Hopefully people will keep a level head."

Other New Zealanders he had spoken to were also hoping the situation did not escalate.

"Everyone's all a bit nervous but the difference for us [expatriates] is we haven't got this patriotism thing going so we're a bit more cautious about this whole war thing."

A former colleague had died in the attack and Mr Dann said he had since considered returning to NZ but had decided against it.


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