MATTHEW is counting his blessings after he became the first person known to have cheated death in two of the world’s most ferocious modern-day terror attacks.
The 36-year-old American first fled for his life 14 years ago when al-Qaeda terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Centre’s twin towers in the devastating 9/11 attacks.
He has now recounted how he survived the carnage that fell upon the Bataclan theatre in Paris, where three Islamic State militants killed 89 people.
Matthew, whose surname is not disclosed, was shot in the leg during the November 13 massacre before being dragged to safety by French journalist Daniel Psenny.
He revealed to Le Mondethat on the fateful morning of September 11, 2001, he also came very close to losing his life.
He had been heading to a work meeting when a hijacked United Airlines plane slammed into one of the twin towers.
“I sprinted across half of Manhattan. But what I went through in the Bataclan was a thousand times worse,” Matthew said.
When gunfire broke out in the middle of the Eagles of Death Metal gig, most revellers thought it was part of the spectacle. But Matthew said he immediately recognised the sound and bolted for the exit.
He detailed his narrow escape, which involved crawling to the exit door each time the attackers reloaded their guns with “two or three people” piled on top of him.
“I inched forward centimetre by centimetre. At one point, I saw the ledge of the exit at arm’s reach. I was able to grip it with one finger, then the other.”
When he made it outside, he collapsed on the pavement just outside Psenny’s apartment — the rescuer Matthew described as his angel.
“I was playing dead,” he said. “When I felt someone dragging me by the arms, I didn’t even look up. I said, or at least in my head — ‘I love you, my angel’.”
Matthew, who had been living in Paris with his family since July, had meant to go to the concert with his wife but she had to stay home when they failed to find a babysitter for their two young children.
He was lying down, vomiting, very pale, but ... he was still conscious,” he said.
Psenny, who had at first been filming the chaos from his apartment window, was shot in the arm as he saved Matthew.
Matthew explained the sensation of something hot running on his skin, and hearing more swearing and gunfire outdoors.
With the help of neighbours and a doctor on the phone, Psenny made tourniquets to help stem blood gushing from his and Matthew’s wounds.
Psenny told how French police had taken up positions in his street, exchanging gunfire with terrorists for about three hours, trapping residents indoors.
Psenny feared he and Matthew were going to bleed to death before they would be able to receive medical aid.
“It would have been absurd, dying like this for nothing,” Psenny said.
Eventually, they were evacuated by paramedics to hospital, where Psenny and Matthew were reunited three days later.
“I couldn’t speak properly ... I told him (Psenny) again he was my angel,” Matthew said.
The pair of survivors expect to stay in touch, or at least share some drinks when they both recovered, with Psenny acknowledging it was a “beautiful tale”.
He did not view himself as a hero, explaining that he acted instinctively.
“You just don’t let somebody die in front of you if you can help it,” he said.
In a further act of defiance, Matthew is even considering returning to the Bataclan, one day.
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