NEWS RELEASE
World Trade Center hero to speak at Abertay
6 February 2007
A former janitor thought to be the last man out of the North Tower of New York’s World Trade Center before it collapsed on September 11, 2001, is to tell students at Abertay University next week about his experiences on that day and since.
William Rodriguez was a janitor in the North Tower and, as the only person at the site with the master key to the North Tower stairwells, he bravely led firefighters up the building, unlocking doors as they ascended.
As well as enabling the firefighters to evacuate unknown hundreds of people, Rodriguez went back into the Towers at great risk to his own life three times after the first plane struck the North Tower at about 8:46am, single-handedly rescuing a further 15 people. He is believed to be the last person to exit the North Tower alive, surviving the building's collapse by diving beneath a fire truck.
After receiving medical attention at the WTC site for his injuries, Rodriguez spent the rest of 9/11 as a volunteer in the rescue efforts, and at dawn the following morning was back at Ground Zero continuing his heroic efforts.
He became a national hero as a result of his efforts, but when he tried to get the authorities to listen to his claim that he heard a huge bomb explode in the basement of the North Tower before the plane struck it, he became embroiled in controversy.
Rodriguez lost many friends in the World Trade Center, and now feels compelled by their memory to travel the world speaking about his experiences and his belief that the full story of 9/11 has never been told.
William Rodriguez is giving a short talk and answering questions from students in the Abertay Student Centre on Monday, 12 February at 5pm. Later in the evening he will give a presentation open to the public at the Steps Theatre, Central Library.
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More information on William Rodriguez: www.911keymaster.com and www.911truthcampaign.net
(Ends) Media enquiries: Kevin Coe T: 01382 308452 M: 07850 904110