September 11: Stuart Knox opens up about losing his twin brother Andrew
A heartbreaking interview with the Australian whose twin brother died in the September 11 attack in New York has left The Project panel struggling to hold back tears.
Stuart Knox’s twin brother, Andrew Knox, died in the World Trade Centre 20 years ago when he was just 29 years old.
During an interview with host Hamish Macdonald on Sunday night, Stuart revealed how his brother’s death changed his life and how he still finds it difficult to rewatch footage of the attack, which is difficult to avoid.
“It’s horrific … it always has been. This is 20 years later,” Stuart said.
“You know, just for a moment, Hamish, pretend that you had a loved one and they died.
“And that somebody recorded that and they sat you down all the time and played it over and over again. And it is just replayed and replayed.
“It’s not even around September. At any time of the year, watching news can be really horrific and it can retraumatise.”
In the aftermath of the attack, Stuart appeared as a representative for the families of the 10 Australians lost on 9/11, making a speech at the memorial in New York.
“For many years I was trying to keep it together and doing it really publicly as if I was keeping it together. On the inside I wasn’t,” he said.
Stuart was later diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction, forcing him to give up his job as a teacher and principal.
More Coverage
After enrolling in rehab he has been sober for seven months.
As America marks the 20th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack ever carried out on Western soil, Stuart remembers his brother as someone who was frustrating at times but also loving.
“He was an amazing person. He cared about other people. He had a huge heart. He was always fighting for the underdog. He wanted this world to be an amazing one and he wanted to be part of that change.”
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ71qippZxfo7yzwMdmmKadop6wonvSrayaqqRiuK%2B712amqZ2eqHq2vIyamaitpGK5sL%2FIp55moJmoerXDyKdkm6qfqbWmvoyopWZqYKm1bq3Np6CvnaKorrPFjKidZnFhZnqiwNOamqSrX6OyuL%2BMrKuoqqlkr3GwkWtonZ5jba%2BnsZacmW6caZmucX%2FCa25wm2FrhqI%3D