As World Trade Center Collapsed Around Him, Blind Man’s Guide Dog Helped Them Get to Safety Down 78 Flights (Exclusive)

Michael Hingson, who has been blind since birth, reflects on his harrowing escape from the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic events that unfolded that day, and Hingson, now 76, shares how he kept his composure with the help of his guide dog, Roselle.

As a regional sales manager for a computer-storage company, Hingson was preparing for a seminar when the first plane, commandeered by terrorists, struck the North Tower at 8:46 AM. The impact sent shockwaves through the building, causing it to shudder and sway perilously. In the midst of chaos, Hingson heard a muffled explosion and felt the effects in the very office where he stood.

“I probably moved about 20 feet,” he recalls. In that moment, Hingson and a colleague, David Frank, thought they were facing certain death. “David and I actually said goodbye to each other,” he says, believing a plunge from the 78th floor was imminent. Unbeknownst to them, Roselle, a yellow Labrador retriever, lay sleeping under Hingson’s desk, blissfully unaware of the growing danger.

As calm began to elude many around him, Hingson managed to hold on to his composure. He called his wife, Karen, informing her of an emergency before planning their escape down the blackened staircase. Despite the terrifying circumstances, Hingson stayed focused, urging Roselle to guide him through the packed stairwell, often recognising the limitations of the space. “The dogs don’t lead, they guide,” he explains.

Through those desperate moments of retreat, Hingson repeatedly reassured Roselle, showering her with praises to help calm her amidst the turmoil. “I knew she was going to sense the fear in everyone else, so I needed to let her know I was okay,” he states.

As they navigated the winding stairwell, they witnessed the mounting fear of fellow evacuees. At one point, a woman behind them expressed her inability to go on, which prompted a collective moment of encouragement and support. “Literally, we had a group hug there on the stairs,” remembers Hingson. Roselle, in her own canine way, provided comfort with gentle kisses.

Fears began to escalate as they descended further. Frank struggled with his anxiety, exclaiming, “Mike, we’re going to die.” Yet, Hingson remained undeterred, commanding him to push forward. His words had an uplifting effect, encouraging Frank to guide their group through the chaos of the stairway.

As they made their descent, first responders began to pass them, heading up the stairs in an extraordinary display of courage. Despite the perilous situation, firefighters urged evacuees to continue their escape downwards. Hingson recalls the bravery of these individuals, acknowledging that 343 New York City firefighters would later lose their lives in this tragic event.

Once Hingson reached the building’s lobby, he received directions from an FBI agent leading him and Frank to safety. The sense of disbelief soon set in when they reached the street and witnessed the crumbling south tower in the distance. A police officer’s warning to evacuate urgently intensified their fear as the south tower was in freefall, creating a deafening rumble that echoed through the streets.

“Everyone turned and ran,” Hingson recalls. “I can’t believe that you got us out of a building just to have it collapse on us,” he thought in that moment. But amidst the chaos, a voice in his head urged him not to dwell on things beyond his control. Instead, he focused on moving forward with Roselle by his side.

Guided by instincts honed through years of training, Roselle led Hingson down a flight of stairs to the safety of a subway station where they awaited further instructions from officials. When it was deemed safe to return to the street, the trio emerged to witness the aftermath of the twin towers. Just minutes later, the North Tower fell, solidifying the unimaginable loss of what had once been an iconic skyline.

After the day’s pandemonium, Hingson returned home to New Jersey, only to find Roselle joyfully playing with her toys, seemingly unaffected by the day’s trauma. Following the attacks, Hingson’s journey took him to California where he worked with Guide Dogs for the Blind, channelling his experiences into motivational speaking. His memoir, “Thunder Dog,” became a bestseller, and he released a new book, “Live Like a Guide Dog,” scheduled for publication in 2024.

Roselle was later honoured with the Award for Canine Excellence for her role on that fateful day, passing away in June 2011 at the age of 14. Now residing in California with his ninth guide dog, Alamo, Hingson continues to impart wisdom gleaned from his harrowing experience. He maintains, “Don’t worry about what you can’t control; focus on the things that you can.” These words serve as a reminder that in the face of fear and chaos, maintaining control over one’s response can be vital for survival.