25 years after 9/11: New documentary reunites survivors with their rescuers
National Geographic, working with the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, has released a three-part documentary series, "9/11: Reunited," bringing together survivors of the 2001 terrorist attacks and the people who saved them 25 years ago. The series explores both the acts of heroism that day and the decades that followed.
As the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks approaches, National Geographic, in partnership with the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, has released a new three-episode documentary series called "9/11: Reunited." Unlike previous retellings of that day, the series brings together people whose paths crossed during the crisis, reuniting them a quarter-century later.
The series was directed by Julian Jones, who previously produced NatGeo's Emmy-winning 2021 series "9/11: One Day in America." He said that experience left him with a strong sense of the selflessness and everyday heroism people showed toward one another that day, which inspired the new project. The team wanted to give survivors a chance to thank their rescuers, ask long-unanswered questions, and remember colleagues and friends who did not survive.
Stories from that day
The series features several accounts of survival. Three men — John Paczkowski, George Phoenix, and janitor Jan Demczur — became trapped in an elevator in the North Tower after the first plane hit; Demczur used a squeegee blade to carve through a wall so they could escape. Debbie St. John was severely injured by debris from the second plane; bond trader Stefan Herlacher rushed to help her and flagged down a passing ambulance. After 50 surgeries and 18 months of treatment, St. John wanted to show her rescuer how far she had come.
At the Pentagon, Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills led a group of survivors to a window, where Cmdr. Craig Powell and others below formed a human chain to catch them as they jumped. Firefighter Kevin Shea survived the South Tower's collapse, and paramedic Al Kim found him in the rubble and stabilized him, helping prevent paralysis.
The series also recalls NYPD officer John D'Allara, who died in the collapse; firefighter Bill Spade later reconnected with D'Allara's widow and sons once they were old enough. Also featured is the rescue of Port Authority police sergeant John McLoughlin from the rubble after 22 hours, an event previously depicted in Oliver Stone's film "World Trade Center."
The director said the team took care in selecting archival footage, avoiding the most graphic images while still staying true to the events.
