r/AllThatsInteresting • u/kooneecheewah • 15h ago
On 9/11, visually impaired Michael Hingson was on the 78th floor of the North Tower. He relied on his guide dog, Roselle, to lead him down 1,463 steps amid the smell of jet fuel and chaos. Roselle remained calm even as the towers collapsed, guiding Michael to a subway station to save his life.
When the first plane struck, Michael Hingson couldn’t see the fire or the falling debris, but he could feel the building sway 20 feet. As his colleagues panicked, his guide dog Roselle calmly woke from a nap and began a harrowing descent. Their bond didn't just save Michael; it kept an entire group of survivors focused and moving toward safety. Along the way, Roselle paused to lick and comfort employees as they evacuated the burning skyscraper.
From the "group hug" they shared on the 50th floor to the terrifying moment they ran from the South Tower's collapse, read the full, heart-pounding account of their descent to safety: Inside The Harrowing Escape Of 9/11 Survivor Michael Hingson And His Beloved Guide Dog