The Blind Survivor of 9/11: How a Guide Dog and a Group of Heroes Escaped the North Tower

Michael Hingson, a blind man, and his guide dog, Roselle, heroically escaped 78 floors of the north tower of the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks. Together with a group of firefighters and a bookkeeper named Josephine Harris, they miraculously survived the building's collapse while trapped in Stairwell B.

On the tragic morning of September 11, 2001, as terrorists hijacked and crashed planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, a blind man named Michael Hingson and his guide dog, Roselle, faced an unimaginable challenge. Hingson, who worked for the American Foundation for the Blind, was on the 78th floor of the north tower when the first plane struck.

Despite his blindness, Hingson remained calm and relied on Roselle's exceptional training to guide him. Together, they navigated the smoke-filled stairwells, descending floor by floor with the help of other survivors who offered assistance.

The Blind Survivor of 9/11: How a Guide Dog and a Group of Heroes Escaped the North Tower

As they reached the 22nd floor, they encountered a distraught woman named Josephine Harris, who was injured and unable to move on her own. Without hesitation, a group of firefighters from Ladder Co. 6 carried Harris with them for the remainder of their descent.

Just as they reached the 13th floor, a deafening rumble shook the building. The south tower had collapsed, sending debris and smoke cascading down. Moments later, the north tower itself began to tremble and buckle.

The Blind Survivor of 9/11: How a Guide Dog and a Group of Heroes Escaped the North Tower

Miraculously, the group of 12 firefighters, one police officer, and Harris found refuge in Stairwell B, a staircase at the center of the building's core. As the tower came crashing down around them, the stairwell miraculously remained intact, protecting the survivors from the deadly debris.

How they survived the collapse remains a mystery, but some speculate that the stairwell provided a buffer zone as the building crumbled around it. For over an hour, they remained trapped in the darkness, unsure if they would ever escape.

The Blind Survivor of 9/11: How a Guide Dog and a Group of Heroes Escaped the North Tower

Eventually, a lone firefighter, hearing their muffled cries for help, located the survivors and guided them to safety. All 14 survivors emerged from the wreckage with no life-threatening injuries.

Hingson and Roselle's extraordinary story became known as "the miracle of Stairwell B." Their unwavering bond and the heroism of the firefighters who risked their lives to save them became a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of tragedy.

The Blind Survivor of 9/11: How a Guide Dog and a Group of Heroes Escaped the North Tower

Today, Stairwell B stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who survived and the enduring bonds that were forged in the depths of despair. It serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope can prevail.