Family remembers Craig Gibson with fondness

Springs-born Craig Neil Gibson (37), who died in the World Trade Centre terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, will be remembered by his family as a funny, sporty and clever person.

He was one of the 3 000 people who died during the terrorist attack.

Craig was at work on the 94th floor of the World trade Centre, where he worked for Marsh & McLennan as an insurance broker when the first hijacked airplane hit the north tower.

Minutes later a second airplane hit the south tower which collapsed shortly after impact.

After burning for 102 minutes, the north tower collapsed.

“I picture my brother sitting on his office chair enjoying a cup of coffee before the terrorist attack,” says Wayne Hinde.

Craig was an ex-Brakpan High School learner and the school honoured him at a memorial service in 2002.

The family say they don’t just remember him on September 9, but think of him with fondness every day.

“The thought never leaves you,” says Wayne.

Craig was outspoken. He expressed his thoughts on what he thought was right, was sporty and lived for soccer – he was still playing the week before he died.

“Craig and his wife Danielle, known as Danni, moved to New York City in the United States of America (USA) from their home in Sydney, Australia, but after six months his job fizzled out.

“They went back to Australia, but he was later called back to New York City,” says Wayne.

He claims Craig had probably been early for work for the first time in his life that fateful morning as he tended to be late for everything.

Wayne will remember his brother as a genuinely awesome, outgoing person.

Craig’s mother Pam Hinde had to forgive the enemy to be able to find inner peace.

She says: “Forgiveness did not make the grieving process easy, but a lot easier.”

The news that Craig was in the building at the time of the terrorist attack filled her with numbness.

When Pam visited Ground Zero a few days after the attack, she still felt numb.

“God has carried me,” she says.

She also attended the first memorial service where they read out the the names of the victims.

Pam remembers the services were quite nice and it was quiet when suddenly four whirlwinds came up.

“It gave me a sense of peace,” she says.

She still misses her son terribly but will remember him as a funny, clever and bright man.

In a tribute to Craig, Danni wrote on October 13, 2001: “The last time I saw Craig was on Tuesday morning September 11, 2001 at 7.45am. Daisy (our dog) and I, took Craig a cup of coffee to wake him

up. We spoke about what plans we had for the day and played with Daisy on the bed before I took her out for a walk. As I gave him a kiss on the forehead, my last words to him were, ‘Give me a call later, love you

babe.'”

“I remember he was still warm from being under the covers and as I turned to walk out with Daisy, he had this huge grin on his face.

“That’s the way I shall remember him.

“I was always so proud knowing my guy worked in the World Trade Centre.

“You could see his building from anywhere in Manhattan and it was like he had made it to the top of the world. After the events of September 11 a dear friend of ours here in New York said to me, ‘You

know Danni, Craig worked on the 94th floor and you can’t get much closer to heaven than that.'”

In an online article published on September 17, 2001, Craig was one of five South Africans presumed missing from the terror attacks.

Source: https://www.irishtribute.com/tributes/view.adp@d=236920&t=238286.html

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2011-09-11-two-from-sa-will-be-honoured/