Carrie Bickmore still keeps in touch with the families of 9/11 victims

    0

    [ad_1]

    Carrie Bickmore reveals she still keeps in touch with the families of 9/11 victims 20 years after the devastating terror attacks


    Carrie Bickmore still remembers sitting in front of her television watching the planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

    The 40-year-old Project co-host admits it was the first major news story she had to cover on radio, after landing a job in Perth fresh out of university.

    The images and stories from 9/11 never left Carrie’s mind, which is why she decided on the 10th anniversary to go to New York City and meet five families who were affected by the tragedy.   

    Emotional: Carrie Bickmore has revealed she still keeps in touch with the families of 9/11 victims 20 years after the devastating terror attacks

    Emotional: Carrie Bickmore has revealed she still keeps in touch with the families of 9/11 victims 20 years after the devastating terror attacks

    ‘It was wall-to-wall with graphic images and deciphering the politics of it all, but it was the stories I kept hearing of families who had lost loved ones and from the survivors that stayed with me,’ she told News Corp Australia.  

    Then, just before the 20th anniversary, Carrie chatted with those same families, including a firefighter who survived after switching his shifts, a mother whose son was falsely accused of being one of the terrorists, and a son who lost his mother.   

    ‘I did genuinely connect with them all 10 years ago so it became more than a news story to me.’ Carrie added. ‘I was genuinely interested in their lives and their grief and their healing.’

    The attacks that shocked the world: The Project host still remembers sitting in front of her television watching the planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001

    The attacks that shocked the world: The Project host still remembers sitting in front of her television watching the planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001

    Connecting with the affected: The images and stories from 9/11 never left Carrie's mind, which is why she decided on the 10th anniversary to go to New York and meet five families who were affected by the tragedy. Pictured: Carrie in NYC on the 10th anniversary of the attacks

    Connecting with the affected: The images and stories from 9/11 never left Carrie’s mind, which is why she decided on the 10th anniversary to go to New York and meet five families who were affected by the tragedy. Pictured: Carrie in NYC on the 10th anniversary of the attacks

    The TV host wanted to know the five families were ‘okay more than anything else’ and said their stores were ‘heartbreaking’ but also ‘inspiring’. 

    While she was nervous to see them all again, she was particularly anxious about seeing the firefighter, Roger, who survived after he swapped shifts with a colleague because his wife was pregnant.

    Roger had to spend nine months at Ground Zero searching through the ruins to find the bodies of his fellow first responders.

    He retired five years later with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease caused by toxic dust from the rubble, which was prevalent among firefighters who worked on 9/11.

    'I was genuinely interested in their lives and their healing': The TV host wanted to know the five families were 'okay more than anything else' and said their stores were 'heartbreaking' but also 'inspiring'. Pictured: Carrie in New York during the 10th anniversary of the attacks

    ‘I was genuinely interested in their lives and their healing’: The TV host wanted to know the five families were ‘okay more than anything else’ and said their stores were ‘heartbreaking’ but also ‘inspiring’. Pictured: Carrie in New York during the 10th anniversary of the attacks

    Tragic: Firefighter Roger spent nine months at Ground Zero searching through the rubble to find the bodies of his fellow first responders. He retired five years later with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease caused by toxic dust from the rubble, which was prevalent among firefighters who worked on 9/11. Pictured: Firefighter Gerard McGibbon on 9/11

    Tragic: Firefighter Roger spent nine months at Ground Zero searching through the rubble to find the bodies of his fellow first responders. He retired five years later with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease caused by toxic dust from the rubble, which was prevalent among firefighters who worked on 9/11. Pictured: Firefighter Gerard McGibbon on 9/11

    ‘He was struggling a decade ago and I was anxious to reconnect to see if he was okay with the emotional journey he has been on,’ Carrie recalled. ‘He’s in a different place but he still struggles with the same images and flashbacks.’

    Carrie has been working on her second 9/11 special, The Project Presents 9/11: 20 Years On.

    Her interviews with the families were conducted via Zoom this year due to border restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

    She admits the discussions were raw, emotional, and plenty of tears were shed.  

    The Project Presents 9/11: 20 Years On premieres Tuesday, 7.30pm on Channel 10

    Upcoming: Carrie has been working on her second 9/11 special, The Project Presents 9/11: 20 Years On. Her interviews with the families were conducted via Zoom this year due to border restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic

    Upcoming: Carrie has been working on her second 9/11 special, The Project Presents 9/11: 20 Years On. Her interviews with the families were conducted via Zoom this year due to border restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic

    Advertisement

    [ad_2]

    Previous articleMerrick Watts and Sabrina Frederick discuss long-term effects of the gruelling SAS selection course
    Next articleEx-Bachelor star Megan Marx SLAMS the 'outdated' Channel 10 show

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here