Terrifying Footage Of 9/11 Reminds Us Why We Should Never Forget That Tragic Day

On the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, it is important to look back and remember those who lost their lives in the horrific events, and those who bravely risked everything to help save the victims.

Caroline Dries, a student living at New York University of the time of the attacks, captured the panic which took place after the first plane hit the North Tower and the terrifying moment the second plane struck in footage shared online.

In the clip, Caroline can be heard speaking on the phone to her mother, wondering aloud what had caused the smoke to billow from the tower and questioning whether it was an explosion.

The student could later be heard saying ‘wait, wh- wh-, oh my god!’, as the second plane hit and those in the room realised the enormity of the situation. Full of fear, they decided to get out of the building.

See the destruction and chaos caused by the aeroplanes in Caroline’s video below:

It was just kind of pandemonium with no one knowing what [was] happening.

It took kind of ten years for me to understand why this footage is special. People, I think, want to remember the details clearly and to hold onto it because they know how significant it was.

On the day the events took place, the second plane hit the South Tower around 18 minutes after the first had hit the North Tower. Hundreds of people struggled to get out from the upper floors of the towers, while many others were killed by the impact of the planes’ crashes.

The towers collapsed, leaving almost 10,000 injured and 2,763 people dead, including firefighters, paramedics and police officers.

As most of today’s teenagers and children only know the terrorist act as a horror before their lifetime, reflecting on September 11 is a vital part of honouring the people who were affected by the tragedy, and remembering how it changed the world.

Many courageous people entered the burning buildings to help those inside, ignoring instincts of self-preservation and risking everything in order to help save people who were, in reality, just strangers to them. Many never returned.

UNILAD spoke to Sabrina, who recalled the stroke of luck which kept her grandfather from the devastation of the World Trade Center during his time working as the chief of the Suffolk County Fire Academy. By coincidence, he was not working on September 11, though the firefighter, like so many other people, was still massively affected by the disaster as he lost two of his best friends to the attack.

Sabrina explained:

Two of my grandpa’s best friends died in 9/11. They happened to be working in the city that day and rushed to the scene.

We kept trying to get in touch with our family to make sure everything was okay, but the phone lines were jammed.

One of the chief’s friends, Ray Meisenheimer, worked with him at Suffolk County Fire Academy and was killed as he went to give aid to the people of New York.

Ray’s daughter, Kaitlynn, spoke to UNILAD about her dad and his involvement on the day, explaining:

My dad was a NYC fireman at Rescue 3 in the Bronx. FDNY rescue companies are the most elite and the best of the FDNY. His company trained in collapse so on that day they were going to assess the situation, and helped civilians while on their way up to the fire.

In addition to FDNY, my dad also worked at the Suffolk County Fire Academy where he was chief of program development.

In November 2001 he was planning to retire from the FDNY to work full time at the academy. We were in the process of moving, building my dad’s dream house.

We moved in December 2001, without him.

Kaitlynn continued:

My dad was coming off shift when the call came in, he was wearing civilian clothes to go to his second job. Like so many others, he dropped what he was doing and jumped on the rig to do what he was born and trained to do; fight fires.

We received confirmation the evening of 9/11 rescue 3 was on the scene and were in fact in the south tower. Still, I didn’t know how this would affect my family.

I don’t remember how much time went by before receiving items from the rig that belonged to my dad, such as car keys, his wallet, his ring and cell phone, but it was then I found out my dad was not coming home to us, he was already home, in heaven.

My dad was a big guy with an even bigger heart and personality. He was born to be a fireman. He loved two things in life, his career and his girls – mom and two daughters.

Stephen gathered his gear and drove to the entrance of Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, which had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to fulfil his duty, Stephen carried 60lbs of gear on his back and ran through the tunnel to the towers, where he too gave his life to save others.

Running the course alongside her mum and some of their closest friends, Kaitlynn and her family created ‘We Run For Ray’, an organisation to raise money for The Stephen Siller Foundation and Building for America’s Bravest. 

Explaing why she created the campaign, Kaitlyn said:

I created Run for Ray as a way to honour and remember my dad.

The family and friends were the lucky ones that have known him personally, they help keep his memory alive. Never forgetting is more than just saying it once a year on an anniversary.

I couldn’t think of a better way to never forget than paying it forward in my dad’s name, to the brave men and women that continue to sacrifice life to protect our freedom.

There were some incredible acts of courage that took place on the day of September 11, 2001, with Ray and Stephen’s stories being just two of many. The terrifying scenes seen in the footage are still harrowing to watch today, and there is no doubt the events will continue to have their effect on the world into the future.

With thousands of family members and friends affected by the loss of loved ones, as well as those who were injured in the events, it is important to remember the bravery and selflessness that took place on a day filled with such terror. When people actively put themselves in the middle of horrific scenes, solely with the purpose of helping others.

Everyone who helped on that day did incredible work, and they will never be forgotten.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677