Anna Coren in the line of fire

Last week TV Tonight noted the remarkable eyewitness report that former Today Tonight host Anna Coren delivered live to CNN viewers around the world as the Philipinnes hostage crisis unfolded.

Coren was anchoring from Hong Kong in the morning and live on the spot in Manila by 6pm, where she remained for three hours.

A disgruntled former policeman had taken hostages in a bus as SWAT teams moved in. Eight people died in the drama.

“We were about 150m from the bus. The area was cordoned off and all the media were on the perimeter. It was quite amazing, we had full view of SWAT teams and the police,” she told The Australian.

“There was a six-lane highway that had been blocked off. Everyone was waiting and watching. There was an incredible thunder storm in the middle of it. The torrential downpour didn’t let up.”

Coren says she couldn’t see any movement on the bus and she didn’t know if any of the hostages were still alive.

“We weren’t quite sure what he had on board,” she said.

“When the machinegun fire came in our direction and people were yelling ‘get down’, ‘get down’, it became apparent we were in harm’s way. As it turned out we were in the line of fire and we had to take cover behind the van.”

A bus driver then jumped out the window and ran past Coren and her crew.

“I wasn’t concerned for my own safety or that of my crew because I was watching it unfold in front of me. Later, when we got right up to the bus it really sunk in. You get such an adrenaline rush but once you get to the bus you see the blood and the bullet holes you realise eight people plus the gunman had been killed.”

Source: The Australian