Blind man escaped 9/11 by walking down 78 flights with help from guide dog
Michael Hingson, a blind man, survived the 9/11 attacks by evacuating the 78th floor of the World Trade Center with the help of his guide dog, Roselle. The story highlights the bond between the man and his dog during the historic crisis.
Why it matters
It serves as a human-interest piece commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11 while highlighting the role of service animals in emergency situations.
September 11, 2026, will mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks which collapsed the World Trade Centre and led to the loss of thousands of lives. It also marks 25 years since Michael Hingson's life was saved by his guide dog, who helped him escape from the 78th story of the north tower of the centre.Hingson, blind since birth, had heard a muffled explosion as he stood in the doorway of his office. "We probably moved about 20 feet," he recalled to PEOPLE. Across the room, his colleague David Frank held onto a desk. “David and I actually said goodbye to each other,” said the 76-year-old, “because we thought we were going to take a 78-floor plunge to the street.
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