Only 9/11 'Triple survivor' reveals moment he began sewing people up
The only ‘Triple survivor’ of 9/11 has spoken out on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the tragedy that changed world history forever.
September 11, 2001 is one of the few days in history - like the JFK assassination - when everyone who was alive at the time remembers where they were when they heard about it.
What started as an ordinary day in New York City ended up leaving the world reeling in shock when at 8.46 am onwards Eastern time, two commercial planes laden with passengers spectacularly crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers.
It was not obvious to those who witnessed the movie-like collisions whether the devastating crashes were some kind of freak accident – until at a few minutes past ten when a third plane struck the Pentagon.
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Flight 93, the fourth plane to crash, went down in Pennsylvania, killing all those on board after passengers were able to break into the cockpit and overwhelm the hijackers.
This is when the world knew for certain the jaw-dropping disasters were an act of terror.
By then the South Tower of the WTC collapsed, sending plumes of deadly dust into the streets, soon to be followed by the North Tower, and later in the day WTC 7 tower also fell to the ground.
The attacks claimed almost 3,000 lives, with firefighters, police, US citizens, international residents, aircraft crew, and passengers all killed. It is understood that 19 terrorists in total died in the suicide attack.
Harrowing as well as uplifting stories have been told by survivors 25 years on. However, few can compare to that of Dr Gordon Huie, who calls himself the sole 'Triple survivor' of 9/11.
Dr Gordon Huie's astounding 9/11 story
"The three things that make me a triple are I’m a survivor, I’m a family member [of a victim] and I’m also a rescue worker," Dr Huie said.
Dr Huie, who was a combat medic before he became an Orthopaedic surgeon, was in NYC’s financial district when he looked up to see 'the towers on fire', and incredibly he began moving towards the site of the devastation – until he saw the North Tower fall to the ground.
“I came to my senses, I realised there was nothing I could do,” he said in an interview with NBC News.
Rather than run further into what became known as Ground Zero, Dr Huie’s professional training kicked in and he immediately changed direction, to head towards the nearest hospital, which he knew to be Beekman Hospital.
“I was sewing people up,” he said.
Despite 'not having privileges there', he was put to work as a first responder working 'on a conference room table' to help save injured survivors caught up in the attack.
He recalled in an interview with SpectrumLocalNews, published last year, that he only had three instruments to hand: a needle holder, forceps and a pair of scissors.
He worked all day until no more survivors were coming in for treatment. It was then that he received a tragic life-changing call from his father.
“My sister, Susan, was in the World Trade Center,” he said.
Susan did not work in the Towers, she was there for a short meeting in the Windows on the World restaurant when the passenger jet struck. No-one present at the restaurant survived.
Now retired, Dr Huie works to raise awareness of an event that has become almost unreal as it has become part of history rather than a lived experience for many.
"If we can tell as many people as we can ... they can tell their great-great grandchildren what actually happened on 9/11," Huie said.
Michael D. Carroll