Video Shows Moment US Students Caught 9/11 Attack On Film And Fled Their Own Building

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

Caroline Dries was a student in September 2001 when she and her roommate, Megan, were woke up by the first explosion.

Assuming it was a bomb that was planted high up in the building, the women could see black smoke billowing from the North Tower as well as what they thought was paper.

Caroline grabbed her camcorder and began filming the events as they unfolded.

Someone can be heard in the background saying: "Thank God it wasn't terrorists though."

Shortly afterwards, the young women started to watch on as people in the building tragically started to jump instead of wait for the inevitable. That is when the second plane crashes into the neighbouring tower.

The South Tower was attacked at 09:03am and on watching the second explosion, the women realised it was indeed a terrorist attack and fled their NYU dorm.

The distressing footage captured the second plane as well as the women's reaction. Both began screaming in panic and shouting 'oh my God, what do I do?'

Caroline went on: "I just remember feeling like I don't know what to do, that feeling of being so vulnerable, so overwhelming.

"We ran out of the apartment, took the elevator down to the street and it was just kind of pandemonium on the street with no one knowing what was happening."

They decided to go back to their university flat and helplessly watched as one of the towers collapsed to the ground.

Comparing it to looking like 'something out of a horror movie', Caroline added: "This massive dust cloud, consuming everything in its path is still so surreal."

Speaking of the significance of the clip, she said: "Sometimes I think you know it would be nice to have not filmed it. To just have run and let time kind of erase all of the details and just move on a little faster."