Greek Australian, Ann Margulis, witnessed 9/11 and now advocates for its ‘hidden’ victims

·

Greek Australian, Ann Margulis, had an uninterrupted view of the 9/11 terror attacks 20 years ago as she was doing a yoga class. 

“It was unbelievable, traumatic to say the least,” Margulis told The Daily Telegraph about witnessing the two planes hit the Twin Towers on that fateful day in 2001, killing roughly 2876 people.

Margulis, along with her husband Les, were later evacuated from their apartment opposite the New York Stock Exchange in the shadow of Ground Zero because of the poisonous clouds that filled the air.

Poisonous clouds covered New York for months.

“The air was dreadful. We could smell the fires, they didn’t go out until February, many months later, and the air quality was terrible, it smelt like burning plastic,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

But the Environmental Protection Agency said the air was safe to breathe despite it stinking as the site continued to burn.

Sixteen months later, Margulis suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) so the couple returned to Sydney and then moved to the Blue Mountains.

She has still not been able to escape the cancers caused by the toxic fumes.

In 2005, she contracted thyroid cancer and then four years later, stage four stomach cancer. After a legal fight, she proved her illnesses were caused by the toxic air and she received a settlement from the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund.

Policemen and firemen run away from the huge dust cloud caused as the World Trade Center’s Tower One collapse.

There are more than 43,000 people who were in the vicinity of Ground Zero after the attacks, including emergency personnel, who reported 9/11-related illnesses and 3000 have died with 68 different types of cancers linked to the gases.

Margulis has been cancer free for a number of years now but still has ongoing health issues as a result. She speaks about that day back in 2001 so that “hidden” victims, including the families and friends of those who died, will not be forgotten.

“I find carrying hatred achieves nothing. I feel really sad, sadness for all the people this has affected and all the families and friends and survivors,” she said.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Is chaos a strategy? My unplanned plan to moving overseas

Book the ticket. Pack your logic (and walking shoes). And if you're lucky, a stranger in a hostel might just become a lifelong friend.

Melbourne mum Debbie Voulgaris breaks silence from Taiwanese jail

Debbie Voulgaris has broken her silence from a Taiwanese prison, speaking out for the first time since her 2023 arrest for drug smuggling.

St George Saints bounce back with a big win

The St George Saints Mens White team were on a mission to avenge previous losses this week. Read more about it here.

Erdogan to be invited to Cyprus-led EU Council in push for regional dialogue

Cyprus has revealed plans to host a high-level EU Council meeting in April 2026, inviting leaders including Erdogan.

Judicial term ends for Cyprus Judge who made landmark ruling in Thanasis Nicolaou case

Judge Doria Varoshiotou will not be made a permanent judge after completing her two-year probationary term.

You May Also Like

American dream in Melbourne: New film challenges Greek stereotypes 

Filmaker Rea Xenitopoulos returned to her Greek roots in Melbourne, delving deep into her heritage in her project, Agorokoritso (Tomboy).  

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos injured during starting debut for Scottish Premiership club

Socceroos striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has been injured during his starting debut for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell.

Pioneering children’s Easter holiday program at St Dimitrios Moonee Ponds a success

Last Friday, the parish of Saint Dimitrios Moonee Ponds held its pioneering immersive Children’s Easter Holiday Program.