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Two Launceston Men Recall Their Experiences of the September 11 Attacks - Launceston, TAS
Smart summary
Local men Ross Youngman and Ben Gray have spoken about witnessing the 2001 attacks in New York and the lasting impact of the day
Two men with links to Launceston have shared their personal experiences of witnessing the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, more than two decades after the events that changed their lives.
Ross Youngman was working for Deutsche Bank in a building next to the World Trade Center's South Tower when the attacks occurred. He recalled the confusion and destruction as the towers were struck and eventually collapsed, with debris falling onto and damaging the building where he was working.
Youngman and his colleagues were forced to evacuate as the situation deteriorated. He later described the experience as having a lasting psychological impact. After returning to Australia, he experienced symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress, including reactions to vibrations that reminded him of the attacks.
He eventually moved his family back to Australia in 2002. Youngman later became involved with the General Sir John Monash Foundation.
Another Launceston man, Ben Gray, was also working in New York at the time. Gray was an investment banker and witnessed the first plane crash from his office on Madison Avenue.
He recalled seeing the aftermath unfold across the city as people attempted to leave Manhattan. One of his strongest memories was the sight of thousands of people walking away from downtown covered in dust, with an unusual silence replacing the normal activity of New York.
The experience affected Gray for years. He avoided using the subway for a decade and did not return to the downtown area for many years following the attacks.
Both men reflected on how dramatically everyday life changed after September 11. Airport security, travel procedures and public awareness of terrorism were transformed in the years that followed.
Their stories were shared as Australia marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2026. Ten Australians were among the thousands of people killed in the attacks in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania.
For the Launceston community, the accounts provide a local connection to one of the most significant events of the modern era. Rather than focusing only on the broader historical events, the stories highlight how people who were present experienced the uncertainty, fear and confusion personally.
The recollections also demonstrate that the effects of major traumatic events can continue long after the immediate danger has passed. Both men described experiences that influenced their lives and decisions well beyond the day itself.
Their memories form part of the wider Australian remembrance of September 11 and provide a personal perspective from two Tasmanians who were in New York when the attacks occurred.
AttacksWereSeptemberYorkEvents
Two men with links to Launceston have shared their personal experiences of witnessing the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, more than two decades after the events that changed their lives.
Ross Youngman was working for Deutsche Bank in a building next to the World Trade Center's South Tower when the attacks occurred. He recalled the confusion and destruction as the towers were struck and eventually collapsed, with debris falling onto and damaging the building where he was working.
Youngman and his colleagues were forced to evacuate as the situation deteriorated. He later described the experience as having a lasting psychological impact. After returning to Australia, he experienced symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress, including reactions to vibrations that reminded him of the attacks.
He eventually moved his family back to Australia in 2002. Youngman later became involved with the General Sir John Monash Foundation.
Another Launceston man, Ben Gray, was also working in New York at the time. Gray was an investment banker and witnessed the first plane crash from his office on Madison Avenue.
He recalled seeing the aftermath unfold across the city as people attempted to leave Manhattan. One of his strongest memories was the sight of thousands of people walking away from downtown covered in dust, with an unusual silence replacing the normal activity of New York.
The experience affected Gray for years. He avoided using the subway for a decade and did not return to the downtown area for many years following the attacks.
Both men reflected on how dramatically everyday life changed after September 11. Airport security, travel procedures and public awareness of terrorism were transformed in the years that followed.
Their stories were shared as Australia marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2026. Ten Australians were among the thousands of people killed in the attacks in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania.
For the Launceston community, the accounts provide a local connection to one of the most significant events of the modern era. Rather than focusing only on the broader historical events, the stories highlight how people who were present experienced the uncertainty, fear and confusion personally.
The recollections also demonstrate that the effects of major traumatic events can continue long after the immediate danger has passed. Both men described experiences that influenced their lives and decisions well beyond the day itself.
Their memories form part of the wider Australian remembrance of September 11 and provide a personal perspective from two Tasmanians who were in New York when the attacks occurred.
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