Annette Herfkens

"If you think that surviving an airplane crash will get you a free pass for the rest of your life, think again." When young Annette Herfkens, one of the few female international bond traders on Wall Street and her fianc boarded Vietnam Airlines flight 474 in Ho Chi Minh City, they were just two passengers headed for a romantic getaway, unaware of the fateful moment that would shatter their dreams forever. The plane crashed into a mountaintop, leaving Annette trapped in the Vietnamese jungle as the sole survivor. What followed was an incredible story of survival, mystery and higher spirit. In this unflinching tale of life, Annette describes how she survived eight days alone in the jungle with only rainwater to sustain her. Thirteen years after the crash, Annette returned to Vietnam to climb the mountain, shedding new light on mysteries that had lingered since the crash. Through flashbacks Annette reveals how she has used the lessons learned in the Vietnamese jungle to celebrate her autistic son in the jungle of New York's Upper East Side. This inspiring book breaks as many boundaries as the protagonist herself. A keen observer, Annette writes with frank and acerbic humor about loss, love, resilience, and spirituality in a fresh, down-to-earth manner. Her book gives us the ultimate insight into mind and heart of a true survivor.

A True Story of Survival

Turbulence

A riveting, inspirational true story of an incredibly resilient woman who broke professional barriers as a Dutch banker, was the sole survivor of Vietnam Airlines Flight 474, found love after the loss of her fiance, and continues to raise her autistic son, never wavering in her optimism. On the morning of November 14, 1992, Annette Herfkens, a top Dutch banker (and one of the few female international bond traders on Wall Street), packed her luggage for a romantic getaway with her longtime fiance, Willem. At 6:25 that morning, Annette and Willem boarded the plane out of Ho Chi Minh City, with twenty-three other passengers and six crew members, excited to finally have a vacation together. Six minutes before landing, flying at speed of 300 miles per hour, the plane lost altitude and crashed along a mountain ridge in the jungle of Vietnam. At first Annette heard the voices of other passengers, but soon they went quiet. Annette was the only survivor. For eight days she lay injured and alone, with only rainwater to sustain her. Presumed dead, her obituary made it into local newspapers. What followed is an incredible story of survival, mystery, and the endurance of spirit. Even after surviving and learning to cope with her harrowing experience, Annette’s biggest life challenge began years later, when her son Maxi was diagnosed with autism. As she weathered the joys and challenges of raising Maxi, Annette often called upon the profound insights she learned during those eight days, viewing every turbulent event in her life with the unflinching optimism of a true survivor. This is an inspiring account of one woman’s journey and perseverance, as a plane-crash survivor and even more so as a devoted mother to her autistic son, but also of discovering strength and beauty in unexpected places.

Es war als romantisches Wiedersehen geplant: Annette Herfkens, junge, erfolgreiche Bankerin an der Wall Street, besucht ihren Verlobten in Vietnam. Doch aus dem Liebeswochenende wird ein Albtraum: Das Flugzeug, mit dem das Paar an die Küste fliegen will, zerschmettert an einer Felswand, alle Insassen bis auf Annette sind tot. Ganz auf sich gestellt, überlebt sie acht Tage im Dschungel - und lernt, worauf es im Leben wirklich ankommt... Annette Herfkens setzt spirituelle Weisheiten und Lehren in die Praxis um. Prägnant und überzeugend beschreibt sie die mühelose Verwandlung ihres Bewusstseins in Achtsamkeit. Deepak Chopra "Der bewegende Bericht über ein beeindruckendes physisches und seelisches Überleben." Kirkus Reviews

Ich überlebte einen Flugzeugabsturz und bekam eine zweite Chance

Als mein Leben vom Himmel fiel

Annette Herfkens overleefde als enige een vliegtuigramp en bracht acht dagen door in de Vietnamese jungle voordat ze gevonden werd. Na haar bijzondere redding slaagt ze erin om haar leven weer op te bouwen, het verdriet om de dood van haar verloofde een plek te geven, haar carrière te hervatten en de liefde weer te vinden. De voornaamste les die ze in de jungle leerde, blijkt ook van toepassing te zijn in haar verdere, dagelijkse leven: neem de zaken zoals ze zijn en verander alleen datgene wat je daadwerkelijk kunt veranderen. Een mooie maar moeilijke les, waar Annnette mee worstelt als haar zoon gediagnosticeerd wordt met autisme. Na veertien jaar keert Annette terug naar Vietnam om de berg te beklimmen waar de crash heeft plaatsgevonden en antwoorden te krijgen op vragen die al jaren door haar hoofd gaan.

Annette Herfkens

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