Michael Hingson and his guide dog Roselle led others down 78 flights of stairs on September 11

Michael Hingson and his guide dog Roselle were on the 78th floor of the World Trade Centre when it was hit by a plane on September 11. But neither panicked.

Michael Hingson, blind since infancy, was working in New York’s World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, when the first of two planes smashed into the tower about 15 floors above him.

Together, the computer sales manager and his guide dog at the time – labrador Roselle – guided themselves and others safely down 78 floors of stairs to escape the burning north tower less than an hour before it collapsed.

September 11 survivor Michael Hingson with his guide dog Roselle. Picture: Supplied

To mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks this year, Mr Hingson is on Friday, in a prerecorded message, addressing the Royal Society for the Blind’s graduating class of nine guide dogs and their volunteer trainers on the value of good team work.

“When the building was struck by the aircraft people started seeing fire,” the 71-year-old told The Advertiser from California earlier this week.

He said what they were seeing were bits of burning debris outside the widows falling from the floors above and they started to panic.

The second tower of World Trade Centre explodes after another hijacked commercial aircraft flies into it, as smoke billows from the north tower, where Mr Hingson and Roselle were on the 78th floor on that day 20 years ago.

“But I was observing Roselle, who had been asleep under my desk,” Mr Hingson said. “When the building was struck and it tipped and came back and it moved around, then Roselle came out from under the desk going – ‘what’s going on’ and just yawned. I took her leash and I told her to heel … and sit. She did that.”

A video still of the second hijacked planed about to fly into the southern tower.

Roselle was calm. “She wasn’t giving out any indication of fear or concern and that told me that whatever was going on and whatever (others) were seeing wasn’t such an urgent thing that we couldn’t try to evacuate in an orderly way.”

Roselle’s response and his well-versed understanding of the World Trade Centre’s emergency evacuation procedures meant Mr Hingson was “concerned” but not scared.

As they made the one-hour journey to the ground floor through crowded and panicked stairways, he said: “I kept encouraging (Roselle) that she was doing a good job so that she would know I was focused and not afraid, because she is going to key off me – that’s what guide dogs do.”

Roselle passed away in 2011. Now by Mr Hingson’s side is chocolate labrador Alamo.

The RSB has named one of its guide dog puppies September, in honour of Mr Hingson and Roselle and to raise awareness of the importance of their lifesaving teamwork.

Starting his journey is trainee guide dog is September, a nine-week-old golden labrador named for Mr Hingson and Roselle’s teamwork in leading people to safety. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Damian Papps, RSB executive director, said Mr Hingson and Roselle’s calm teamwork throughout their “dangerous” journey was “extraordinary” and hallmarks of good-quality guide dog training built on trust and creating powerful relationships.

The RSB is asking for donations to help raise nine-week-old September with a target of $78,000 – the cost to train and keep a guide dog in service, and $1000 for every floor Mr Hingson and Roselle walked down.

Donations can be made here.