Paris attacks: Man who escaped killings at Bataclan had survived 9/11
Matthew was shot by terrorists but managed to drag himself out to the street where a French journalist came to his aid
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An American who escaped from terrorists at the Eagles of Death Metal gig in the Bataclan the night of the Paris attacks had also survived the 9/11 attacks in New York.
The 36-year-old named Matthew was shot in the leg by attackers in the Bataclan, but pretended to be dead and dragged himself to safety as the killers reloaded their weapons.
"I inched forward centimetre by centimetre. At one point, I saw the ledge of the exit at arm's reach," he told French newspaper Le Monde.
"I was able to grip it with one finger, then the other."
Outside he was found by Daniel Psenny, a Le Monde journalist, and another man.
"I was playing dead," Matthew said. "When I felt someone dragging me by the arms, I didn't even look up. I said, or at least in my head – 'I love you, my angel.'"
Mr Psenny, who had been in his apartment filming concert goers as they rushed from the scene, was able to drag him to safety, but was shot and injured by one of the gunmen as he did so.
Mr Psenny said that he had acted "instinctively".
"I had the human reflex not to let someone die in front of me, but it was the circumstances that allowed it," he said.
"If I had been under machine gun fire, I no doubt wouldn't have come to get Matthew."
The two remained in the Mr Psenny's flat for hours before police allowed local residents to leave the building and the injured pair were taken by ambulance to George Pompidou hospital.
Matthew's wife had been supposed to go with him to the concert, but remained at home as they could not find a babysitter that night.
It also emerged that Matthew's lucky escape was his second - he had been in the street below the World Trade Centre in New York during the September 11 attacks in 2001.
He had been heading to a work meeting when a United Airlines plane struck one of the twin towers.
"I sprinted across half of Manhattan," he said. "But what I went through in the Bataclan was 1,000 times worse," he said.
Matthew and Mr Psenny have promised to share a glass "or probably the entire bottle" when they have fully recovered from their ordeal.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments