Annette Herfkens – A Journey from Destruction to Strength

In 1992, Annette Herfkens was living what many would call a dream life. She was a successful Wall Street trader, enjoying a flourishing career in finance, alongside a passionate and loving relationship. Everything seemed to be going perfectly for her, with the world at her feet and a bright future ahead. Yet, all of that changed in a sudden and terrifying moment. Annette, originally from the Netherlands, had planned a romantic getaway with her longtime partner, William. After thirteen years together, William, who was heading the Vietnam branch of Internationale Nederlanden Bank, and Annette, busy with her trading career, had finally found time to reconnect after months apart. They decided to take a much-needed break from their demanding professional lives and escape the stress with a trip that was meant to be a reunion of love and relaxation.

Their itinerary was simple and idyllic: they would start in Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling urban center full of energy, before moving on to Nha Trang, a serene coastal resort known for its beautiful beaches and calm atmosphere. However, what was intended to be a peaceful retreat turned into a nightmare for Annette and the other passengers on Vietnam Airlines Flight 474. As a lifelong claustrophobe, Annette felt a strong sense of dread even before boarding the plane. The aircraft was a Yakovlev Yak-40, an older Soviet-built jet, and it immediately unsettled her. On November 14, 1992, when she stepped onto the plane with William, she was anxious.

Her fiancé, whom she affectionately called “Pasje,” tried to comfort her with a little white lie, assuring her that the flight would only take about 20 minutes. But as the minutes ticked by and they remained in the air, the situation grew tense. The flight lasted far longer than expected, and fear began to rise. Annette remembered how the plane suddenly dropped, causing panic among the passengers. Someone screamed, the cabin went dark, and then the impact came. The crash was devastating, and Annette’s life was forever changed in those terrifying moments.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself surrounded by the sounds of the Vietnamese jungle. The wreckage was all around her. Nearby, the lifeless body of William was still strapped to his seat, a haunting reminder of the tragedy. Annette was badly injured — her hip shattered, a broken leg, a collapsed lung, and a bone protruding from her jaw — but she was alive. The initial moments after the crash were a blur, but she knew she had to get out.

Her survival instincts kicked in. Despite excruciating pain, she managed to crawl out of the wreckage and drag herself through the jungle. She remembered that it was a fight for survival, and she chose to fight rather than give up. In those early hours, she was not alone. She heard other survivors groaning and crying nearby, and a Vietnamese businessman even gave her some clothing after her skirt tore during the crash. However, as time passed, the voices around her grew silent one by one, until she was left surrounded only by the dead.

To stay alive, Annette used breathing techniques she had learned from yoga to help manage her lung injury. She described it as practicing mindfulness before the term was widely known. She also collected rainwater using insulation material from the plane’s wings, risking further injury by tearing her elbows badly enough to require skin grafts later. She rationed the water carefully, drinking just a sip every two hours, congratulating herself for every small success, knowing it was the key to her survival.

Back home, her family and friends feared the worst. An obituary for Annette was even published in the newspaper, and her employer sent a condolence letter. Yet her close friend and colleague, Jaime Lupa, refused to give up hope. Jaime had promised Annette’s father that he would bring her home alive, despite skepticism and anger from others who believed the promise was impossible. On the seventh day after the crash, Annette felt her strength fading. But on the eighth day, a miracle occurred. A Vietnamese policeman and his team came searching for victims. They expected to find only bodies, but to their surprise, they discovered Annette alive. She was rescued and carried down the mountain on a makeshift stretcher.

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