Gwyneth Paltrow's chance encounter saves woman from 9/11 New York City World Trade Center attack

In the devastating terror attacks on New York's World Trade Center, thousands of innocent lives were lost.

However, one woman has come forward to share her miraculous survival story, crediting Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow for saving her life that fateful day. The tragic event occurred 22 years ago when two hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers, resulting in the death of 2,977 people. The world watched in horror as the terrifying events unfolded live on television.

In the wake of the disaster, survivors began sharing their stories of narrow escapes due to missed trains and heavy traffic. One such survivor is account manager Lara Lundstrom Clarke. She credits a chance encounter with Gwyneth Paltrow for making her late for work at the World Trade Center, thus saving her from being in the second tower when it was struck by a plane.

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Lara, who was employed at Baseline Financial Services on the 77th floor of Tower 2, was only 24 years old during the 9/11 terror attacks. She recounted how she was crossing 7th avenue to Christopher Street station when a silver Mercedes SUV almost hit her.

"I stopped and they screeched to a halt," she shared with The Morton Report . "Then it developed into one of those classic who-goes-first situations. It got ridiculous. Then I made eye contact with the Mercedes driver. OMG it was Gwyneth Paltrow."

Lara mentioned that Gwyneth waved across the road and she continued towards the subway station. She added: "At least if I was late for work I had a story to tell."

As Lara hurried to catch her train, she reached the platform just as the doors closed in front of her, reminiscent of Gwyneth's film Sliding Doors. Unaware of the unfolding disaster, Lara admitted she was "annoyed at everything that had made me late that day, including Gwyneth Paltrow". By the time she arrived at the World Trade Center, the first plane had hit and she was instructed to wait back in the subway station.

She described the situation as "total chaos". During the horrifying experience, Lara said her thoughts were consumed by her parents and what would happen to them if she died. She confessed her "heart was racing, I was paralysed."

When people were finally allowed out of the station, a police officer directed them to move far away from the Towers. Lara remembered seeing people jumping from the building. Moments later, the second plane hit her office.

Miraculously, most of her co-workers survived. Lara has since credited Gwyneth with saving her life, stating: "If I had made that train I would have been at my desk on the 77th floor of 2 World Trade centre."