Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe would have been on the top of the World Trade Centre at the time of the terrorist attack, except he had forgotten his camera.
If the attack had occurred 20 minutes later, Thorpe would have been on the viewing deck at the top of one of the towers, his management said today.
"He was probably 20 minutes away from being there," said Frank Turner, one of Thorpe\'s managers.
Thorpe is in New York on a promotional visit.
Mr Turner says Thorpe had woken early yesterday morning and walked past the World Trade Centre towers.
He decided he would go back to his hotel, get his camera and return to the towers to take some photos.
Just as he was about to leave his hotel he switched on the television which revealed the first tower had been attacked.
"He was shocked," Mr Turner said.
"A few minutes later and who knows what could have happened."
Thorpe was in New York for an event for clothes designer Giorgio Armani, which has subsequently been postponed.
Thorpe was being accompanied by Michelle Flaskas, wife of co-manager David Flaskas.
Mr Flaskas spoke to his wife and Thorpe yesterday but is yet to contact them today.
It is still undecided when Thorpe would return to Australia.
Later this week he was scheduled to fly to Japan for some more promotional events.
But in yesterday\'s mayhem, Thorpe and Ms Flaskas decided they would join thousands of other New Yorkers and donate blood.
"They wanted to do something to help so they decided to donate blood," Mr Turner said.
Mr Turner said Thorpe and Ms Flaskas were both shocked by the tragic events, but were coping.
ABC Australia
