Sarah Williamson, the ex-girlfriend of Carlton skipper Marc Murphy, survived the Nairobi attack. Source: News Limited
A MELBOURNE woman and her father have crawled out of a six-hour nightmare spent trapped in a Kenyan shopping centre under attack by terrorists.
Sarah Williamson, 23, the ex-girlfriend of Carlton skipper Marc Murphy, was visiting her father in Nairobi when they were caught up in the horrific siege that has seen 59 people killed and at least 200 wounded.
Her mother, Linda Williamson, said her daughter described the ordeal as "the most terrifying experience of her life".
The father and daughter sheltered in the back of a shop after they heard grenades go off as terrorists stormed the mall.
"She heard a grenade go off and then her father heard the next one and gunfire," Ms Williamson said.
"He knew they were under attack and they went into the back room."
They barricaded themselves with eight other people and tried to stay as quiet as possible.
An armed police officer takes cover during a bout of gunfire outside the Westgate Mall in Nairobi. Picture: AP
Ms Williamson was in Nairobi to see her father and study for her impending law exams.
They managed to escape after six hours when armed forces secured the floor they were on.
"They crawled out along the perimeter of the building," her mum said.
Ms Williamson said her daughter was "so glad to be out" but her thoughts were with the other victims.
"She's doing really well, she's heading up to the hospital to donate some blood now," she said.
"She called me at about 2.30am because she didn't want me to wake up, see it on the news and panic and wonder where she was."
Terrified shoppers run to cover with police and security surrounng them. Picture: AFP
Ms Williamson said her daughter was due to stay in Kenya for another month and was still "planning to stay there for a bit".
Former Australian resident Greg Aldous, a New Zealand national who now lives in Kenya, also escaped the frightening attack after cowering in a box.
Mr Aldous was buying groceries when there was a stampede of people shouting: "They're shooting, they're shooting!"
A policeman carries a baby to safety. Picture: AFP
Fearing his white skin would make him a target, he hid for an hour before making a frantic escape through a car park.
"One of the snipers shot a dude about 10 metres away, just a guy, just a waiter," Mr Aldous said.
"We were petrified, it was a terrifying situation. They were coming in through the front, they were coming in through the back and we were just sitting ducks ... They are horrible people."
About 1000 shoppers were stranded in the mall when the terrorists struck.
Two French women and two Canadians, including a diplomat, are among the 59 dead.
- with Jessica Marszalek and Penelope Debelle
tom.minear@news.com.au
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