WTC victim credits God, instinct for survival

Duch: "I thank God I'm here today."

NEW YORK (CNN) -- One of the most critically injured victims of the attack on the World Trade Center said, as she was released from a burn center Tuesday morning, that her strong will and faith in God helped her survive.

Elaine Duch, 49, of Bayonne, New Jersey, was brought to Weill Cornell Burn Center in critical condition on September 11 with burns over 77 percent of her body and suffering from severe smoke inhalation.

Duch, who is being transferred to a rehab hospital, spoke hoarsely but clearly, as she met with reporters on Tuesday.

VIDEO Elaine Duch, who suffered extreme burns in the WTC attack, said faith and sheer will helped her survive. (January 29) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   EXTRA INFORMATION War Against Terror: Victims

"I thank God I'm here today," said Duch, who was wearing an Fire Department of New York cap. "When I got hurt ... I said 'God save me,' and he did."

The administrative assistant for the Port Authority's Real Estate Department was working on the 88th floor of Tower One of the World Trace Center when the first plane hit. She was in a hallway at her office at the time when "all of a sudden" she saw fire.

She said she would have been blown up if she were a "few feet farther in" and would have been OK if she were a few feet back.

With assistance, she got to the street. She took an elevator to the 44th floor and then walked down.

Duch said it was only a month ago that she realized the extent of what had happened at the World Trade Center.

"I never thought they would have attacked the Trade Center a second time," she said. A bomb was detonated beneath the center in the first attack, in 1993. "I can't believe the towers are gone."

She had seven operations at the burn center, which is under the auspices of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. The burn team that contributed to Duch's care is composed of 150 people.

"I had my ups and downs," she said. "I didn't want to die. I pushed very hard to get better."

Duch is to be transferred to the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, New York, for rehab. She will receive outpatient treatment from the burn center.

Of her plans for the future, she said she wants to go back to the way she was, but is thinking about taking a "nice, long vacation," possibly with a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Paul Adams, the emergency medical technician who treated her after she walked out of the building, has visited Duch regularly in the hospital.

He said she was so badly hurt that after they put her on a stretcher, a priest administered last rites.

"She's made a complete turnaround the last three weeks. I couldn't believe it," Adams said. "She's a big inspiration."

The center has treated 18 of the most critically injured patients from the World Trade Center attack. Duch is the 11th burn patient to be released. One still remains at the hospital. A hospital spokesman said the six others died.