Rocco Fertoli, the 9/11 rescuer who took decades to speak out

On September 11, 2001, Rocco Fertoli, then a captain in the New York City Fire Department, was off duty and watching television when news alerts broke about an airplane striking the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Despite having the day off, Fertoli responded to the disaster to aid in rescue and recovery efforts, a harrowing experience that he kept to himself for decades before finally choosing to speak out about the events.

His delayed public account highlights the long-lasting psychological impact and the profound silence maintained by many first responders who witnessed the tragedy firsthand.