Firefighter widow's shock at tragedy

The widow of a New York firefighter, in London to collect a bravery medal on behalf of her husband, spoke of her horror on turning on the television in her hotel room to see parts of the city in flames again.

Danny Suhr was leading a team of eight firefighters when he was struck by the body of an office worker who jumped from the burning upper floors. A priest administering last rites to Mr Surh, Father Mychal Judge, was also killed by falling debris from the building.

For Mrs Suhr, 36, yesterday's crash brought the memories back. She said: "It's really weird for me because the plane crashed just 10 blocks from my home in Queens. My home is okay but I have been phoning New York non-stop to find out if my friends and family are all right. I feel terrified that this happened so close and I'm afraid to go home."

Accepting the award at the Ross McWhirter memorial dinner in Middle Temple Hall, on behalf of New York's firefighters, Mrs Suhr gave a moving speech, reducing some of the audience to tears.

She said: "I lost my true love on that terrible Tuesday, on a day that history will record as the day to rid the world of the evil of terrorism. My brave husband pulled up his sleeves and did his duty and his fellow rescuers served notice to cowards."