| November 29, 2008 MA couple's tale of survival from Mumbai
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(Stephen Iandoli, NECN) - Their vacation in India was cut short when they were suddenly thrust into a scene most people only see on TV or in violent video games.
Willy and Gerrie Stadelmann celebrated a belated Thanksgiving with family in Onset, Massachusetts, grateful for being rescued from their Hotel in Mumbai after terrorists took it over this week.
More than 150 people around them were killed, including one man in their tour group.
The Stadelmann's battled the surrounding smoke, caused by fire and bombs, by lying on their hotel room floor for hours with wet towels draped over their heads.
"We were really hunkered down on the floor and we were like 'the smoke might kill us, the fire might kill us or the terrorists might kill us',"Gerri Stadelmann said.
Listening to gunfire and screams outside, it was only when the Indian Army knocked on their door on Thursday that the grandparents of four felt a small sense of security.
That vanished when they started their long journey out of the hotel, leaving everything but the clothes on their back behind.
Fearful from afar, their five children could finally pull away from the computer and violent images on TV when they learned of their parents were safe.
"We don't normally say I love you or any of those things; maybe a quick hug on the holidays," Tara Stadelmann said. "Every time I call my brothers they said 'I love you' and 'tell mom and dad we love them'. They were much
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