September 11, 2001: Victims’ families share stories from Ground Zero

THE stories from 9/11 are heartbreaking — and in some cases, truly terrifying. Here, victims’ families share their experiences with news.com.au.

11 September 2001. Terrorist attack in America. Fire ball explosion in tower. Collapse of World Trade Centre in New York, USA after aeroplane flown into building after hijacking. Terrorism, plane, damage. World Trade Center. (Pic: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

THE stories at Ground Zero are devastating, heartbreaking — and in some cases, truly terrifying.

It’s September 11, 2015, and as the tears roll through the strained faces of 9/11 victims’ families at a closed memorial service, the devastating mark left by the terrorists who plunged into the World Trade Centre fourteen years ago can still be felt today.

“YOU’RE my hero, you’re my son, God bless you ...”

“Your light is not diminished ...”

“Please say hi to grandma, love you now and forever ...”

During the ceremony to commemorate the 2,977 innocent people who lost their lives, the families approach the press, framed pictures in hands, and share the story of the family member who was, by chance, at a meeting at the World Trade Centre, or who decided to go to work even when they were sick.

These are a handful of their stories.

JOHN P. SKALA, PORT AUTHORITY OFFICER, EMT

“He was very outgoing, he loved his friends and he loved his job. He worked very hard, but played hard too. I didn’t realised how many lives he’s touched. Even today I’m hearing new stories and I’m reminded of the way he touched people. He was called to come and help, he went back in a second time ...” - Irene Lesiw

JAMES N. PAPPAGEORGE, FIREMAN

“Jimmy was my fiance and domestic partner. We were engaged, we were going to be married in 2002. He was a fireman on 9/11, he had just graduated, on July 23. He was just six weeks out on the job, before that he was a paramedic. He loved helping and rescuing people.” - Gina Pinos

ADRIANE VICTORIA SCIBETTA, ACCOUNTING, CANTOR FITZGERALD

“Adriane was on the 101st floor. She gave me a call at around 7am that day while she was going to work. She told me she wasn’t feeling well, but she went to work anyway. She said, ‘I’m going to save a sick day for Halloween’. A couple hours later this tragedy happened.” - Salvatore Venuto

MARK ZANGRILLI, INSURANCE UNDERWRITER

“Mark was attending a business meeting in the World Trade Centre. Mark is my little brother, there was five of us. He was on vacation, but he went in that morning. He had two little babies. His little one was a year and a half, his older one was three.” - Linda Spinella

CELESTE TORRES VICTORIA, RISK WATERS GROUP

“Celeste was my sister. She was down at the World Trade Centre for a meeting and got caught up in the whole mess. I got a call, I was working as a paramedic when people were coming out of the building.” - Dean Torres

JOSEPH G. VISCIANO, TRADER

“Joe was 22, and a graduate of Boston college. He had only been working for six weeks, he was training to be a trader. He was at the south tower on the 89th floor. He was so happy he got the job.”

To honour the victims on the tenth anniversary, the New York Times wrote profiles on every person caught up in the of the September 11 attacks. You can read their stories here.