Golf: Parvenik 'feared for his life'

Ryder Cup golfer Jesper Parnevik feared for his life as two hijacked planes ploughed into the World Trade Centre a kilometre from where he was staying.

The Swede was in Manhattan for a meeting with golf clothing designer Johan Lindeberg in the Plaza Hotel when the first aircraft struck the twin towers.

‘‘The first hit we didn’t hear because of the thick walls in the hotel. But then we heard from reception what had happened,’’ the two-time Open runner-up said in Swedish daily Expressen.

‘‘Because the Plaza is a very well known building we thought they might go for us so we had to get out of there.’’

Leaving all his belongings, Parnevik ran from the lobby just as the second plane hit, making the ground shake beneath him.

‘‘It was absolutely terrible. We were just running and waiting for the next hit. Of course you are afraid. I was thinking about my family and what might happen next.’’