'Finding my missing NY friend'

Thousands of the missing may never be recovered

As one of many waiting in vain for news of loved ones who worked in the World Trade Center, Aubrey Hill detailed her hopes and fears for BBC News Online. Here, she describes her friend's lucky escape.

One of my best friends, Tiffany, worked on the 81st floor of Tower One in the World Trade Center.

For several days after the attacks, I tried calling her every hour with no luck - all the circuits were still busy.

Driving home, I picked up the cell phone to try once more to reach my friend. Her boyfriend answered the phone and I couldn't bring myself to speak. He immediately said: 'Oh my god, she is all right!'

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When she came on the line, the tears welled up as I asked her how she was doing. She told me everything...

Hopes of finding survivors have all but faded

Her boyfriend's birthday was Monday and they had gone out for a late night. She was tired on Tuesday morning and her brother had forgotten to wake her up in time for work.

She missed the 7:40 train to Manhattan and jumped on the 8:00. By the time she stepped off the subway underneath the WTC, she could see people were scared.

The 20 minutes she had overslept turned out to be her saving grace.

Her building had already been struck by the first plane, only five floors above her office.

Taking a break at the subway stop outside the twin towers

Two police officers were yelling at people to leave the subway station through the street exit, not to enter the WTC.

When Tiffany arrived at street level she began shaking. People were crying and staring at the top of her building. The entire top portion was in flames and smoke was pouring out of broken windows everywhere.

If a stranger had not come to her aid, she would have returned to the WTC

She became hysterical and took off running through the crowds. Some were already running themselves.

She was approached by a stranger a few blocks away who told her it would be all right and took her into a building to phone her father.

This stranger then led her away from the danger by telling her she had to keep going. She believes that if he had not come to her aid, she would have returned to the WTC.

In memorium: Tributes left near the site

This man saved her from the collapse - the cloud of ash and the flying debris. He saved her life but she never got his name.

I can only call her story 'lucky'. A few of her friends were not so fortunate, but are alive, although extremely shaken, broken and bruised.

As we ended our telephone call she thanked me for my concern and friendship and I thanked her for being alive.