Retired New York City Fire Department Paramedic Chevalo Wilsondebriano was on duty at his station in Queens, New York on September 11, 2001.
He heard the calls for backup coming across his radio and he and his partner took their mobile emergency unit to the scene. On a normal day, it would only take 30 to get to Manhattan from Queens, but on this day, it took over an hour. He wasn't fully aware of what was going on as he was driving to the scene. He received a phone call from his girlfriend begging him not to go as she was telling him exactly what was happening. He told her he had to go and help his friends.
He and his partner parked their emergency vehicle in front of World Trade Center 7 which was very close to the North Tower. They had not been there long when they heard a terrible rumble. They knew the tower was going to fall and quickly started running away from the falling building.
He and his partner made it away safely and went back later to help those in need of medical attention.
Firefighter Wilsondebriano spoke at Patriots Point today to honor those who died on 9/11/2001. He is pictured above with my son and me.
He heard the calls for backup coming across his radio and he and his partner took their mobile emergency unit to the scene. On a normal day, it would only take 30 to get to Manhattan from Queens, but on this day, it took over an hour. He wasn't fully aware of what was going on as he was driving to the scene. He received a phone call from his girlfriend begging him not to go as she was telling him exactly what was happening. He told her he had to go and help his friends.
He and his partner parked their emergency vehicle in front of World Trade Center 7 which was very close to the North Tower. They had not been there long when they heard a terrible rumble. They knew the tower was going to fall and quickly started running away from the falling building.
He and his partner made it away safely and went back later to help those in need of medical attention.
Firefighter Wilsondebriano spoke at Patriots Point today to honor those who died on 9/11/2001. He is pictured above with my son and me.