20 years have passed since the attack on the Twin Towers. It was September 11, 2001 when terror forcefully infiltrated the homes of Americans.
20 years have passed since the attack on the Twin Towers. It was September 11, 2001 when terror forcefully infiltrated the homes of Americans. That day 2974 people lost their lives but thanks to a brave dog some of them were saved from certain death.
A story that continues to move after many years. It is that of Roselle, a Labrador female. As the Twin Towers were engulfed in flames on the morning of September 11, 2001, nearly 3000 people were desperately trying to escape hell before the World Trade Center collapsed. Together with the men there were also other rescuers, as many as 300 dogs. And Roselle was one of them. The brave guide dog not only saved her blind master but also 30 other people, guiding them through fire, smoke and debris for 80 floors and bringing them to safety.
Telling the story was Roselle owner Michael Hingson, sales director for Fortune 500 Quantum company. The man first met her guide dog in 1999, and the two had never separated since, not even that terrible 11/XNUMX when, at the time of the attack, Roselle was sitting under her desk, like everyday.
“I heard a tremendous roar, and the building started shaking violently, before slowly tipping over, tilting over 20 feet,” Michael told the Sunday Express.
Although not everyone in the skyscraper knew it at the time, the building had just been hit by American Airlines Flight 11, hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists.
“While all of this was happening, the explosion, the burning debris, the people in the meeting room screaming, Roselle sat next to me calmer than ever. She did not feel any danger in the smoke and flames - If she had sensed the danger she would have behaved differently, but she did not. Roselle and I were a team and I trusted her ”.
So Michael and Roselle headed for the door, surrounded by frightened people and with no idea what to do. The heat from the fires of the upper floors was starting to feel so Roselle started running down the stairs pulling the man with her and other people began to follow them.
“We started going down and I noticed a strong smell, a bit like kerosene. I suddenly realized what it was. I had flown all over the world and heard it on the slopes. It was the smell of jet fuel. Then I thought: what if a plane hit the building? " Michael continued.
The kerosene in the air became so strong that it started burning in the eyes. After an hour, the dog and his entourage finally reached the hall. Suddenly, a police officer started yelling at them to flee because the building was collapsing. Just 10 seconds later there was nothing but rubble and smoke around them.
Michael grabbed Roselle and started running with her, quickly realizing that everyone was now fleeing for their lives.
“I heard the sound of glass breaking, metal twisting and terrified screams. I will never forget the sound as long as I live. Then we were engulfed in a monstrous cloud of sand and gravel. She filled my throat and lungs and I was gasping, trying to breathe. But we kept running and Roselle continued to drive me perfectly. She didn't stop once ”.
Hingson was one of the lucky survivors and owes it all to his guide dog. In 2011, she was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer and died but his heroic legacy survives. Roselle's Dream Foundation has also been set up to continue helping people with vision problems.
Sources of reference: Express, Roselle's Dream Foundation
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