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Frank Bunce - Source: ONE News -
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Former All Black Frank Bunce says that being stuck at Cairo Airport was worse than anything he experienced on Egypt's streets.
Bunce was with a television crew in the Arab nation filming an episode of TV ONE's Intrepid Journeys programme when he became caught up in protests demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak's authoritarian 30-year rule.
He said that while he found it frightening being involved in the street riots, trying to leave the country was more chaotic.
"It was worse then being involved in the streets over there. It was chaos, it was just a madhouse. We were there really really early, we spent 12 hours at the airport... it took us a good three hours, maybe a bit more, to get checked in, get our boarding passes, and get through Customs.
"You literally had to fight your way for every single step... people were physically fighting and pushing and shoving and screaming. It was a nightmare."
He said the curfew, imposed by Egypt's president, did nothing to calm the anger and frustration Egypt's citizens are feeling.
"As the curfew lifted, the crowds just came and there was no order whatsoever, no organisation, nothing."
While in Cairo, Bunce was warned by hoteliers to stay off the streets and was told he risked his life if he was caught outside in the chaos.
"We were in a hotel and they told us to go up on the roof, because apparently there were mobs of looters who were robbing hotels and some of them were coming our way, so everyone had to go up on the roof.
"They warned you not to go out on the streets because it's not just dangerous - we're talking death - and you're in danger of your life if you go out there with these guys around," said Bunce.
Bunce and the television crew he was travelling with have left Egypt and are due back in New Zealand tomorrow.