I’m not American, but every year I come back to this event to honour the victims of that tragic day. It’s the humanity that suffered that day and even though I was very far away, I remember that day very well.

Our director told us to stay. He said to get in a huddle in the middle of the floor bc it was safer inside than out there. We all saw what was falling out the windows, the pandemonium on the ground below… at that moment, you have to choose what was safer. I saw my friend, ( who was in the ‘93 bombing), grab her bag & run. I looked at the huddle, the giant windows, then at her & I followed her.

This guy is a hero he literally saved the lives of over 200 people by saying fuck that we are going he probably doesn’t realise that he is a true leader and a hero this is the type of person I would want to shake hands with and thank him for what he did that day to help so many

So glad I found this interview. What a remarkable man. He was so young, but He was a true leader. He came across as very focused and with great instinct for survival. He actually saved 260 people that day for not being afraid to speak up and to act decisively! Simply amazing story! I love his bond with the 63 year old lady he helped. All the very best for the future..:-))

Regardless of his personal financial issues right now (jail?),it doesn’t negate the fact that he is a true hero and saved many people! Remember these are everyday people with issues just like all of us! I am thankful for what he and so many others did to help people on that horrible day!!

Thank you so much- I watch every special, documentary and testimony I can every year, it’s my small way of honoring all of you- turning my focus back to that day and shutting out any current issues. I’m so glad you’re talking about your experience and how you took care of Sophie, highlighting all the acts of kindness without knowing what had even happened, operating under so much confusion - it’s unbelievable what you’ve been through. Thank you for being a brave messenger …you are a important piece to the entire story.

Ryan. Thank you for sharing your experience, and for helping and directing everyone one around you at the time the 9 11 tragedy was happening. For a 23 years old you are very very brave, smart and a good guy obviously. Ryan you are special and you made a difference in peoples lives when needed most. God bless you . And bless all your loved ones.

This guy is an angel on earth, a true hero.

I’m so moved by his story of survival. I like how he shared his family’s reactions too. I can’t imagine what they went through all those hours thinking he had died.

Thank you. Still can’t hear stories about 9/11 without crying. Hope this man finds peace. RIP to all who have served and sacrificed. Peace to all. ☯️❤️🙏

I love the bond between the young man and the 63 year old women that was forged that day and remained until her death.

Ryan, you owe nobody nothing, but always remember it’s never too late to do what you need to do, it’s only too late when your dead. Hold your head high, your a survivor and so many people are alive because of you and your choice to speak your mind. Bless you, your a 911 hero 🙏🙏🙏

Much love and respect to you for sharing your experience

You can tell he is still so traumatized. He completely downplays that he is a hero. I’m sure Sophie told him he was her hero. I’m sure he has suffered tremendously with PTSD I can only hope he is still getting help for his trauma.

What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing. In all my 9/11 research and survivor stories, this one truly touched me. RIP to sophie.she sounds like she was an incredible person too!

I hope somehow he finds peace, real peace, peace of mind. He is so deeply affected. He is such a special person, able to articulate his experiences in a real sincere sense as if he's having a conversation with the viewers.

I think everyone is greater than their worst mistake. Well said.

this man saved so many people's lives by thinking quickly and leaving fast taking the stairs omfg

My significant other who’s not very significant now. Awesome. This guy is bad ass.

I love his story. I could listen to him all day

He is describing PTSD which he clearly still has, even if only remnants of it. I suffered from it 25 years ago after being run over by a truck whilst riding my bicycle. 90% of it has gone but I still don't like it when I'm in a car and spot a cyclist. I hyperfocus on them. I don't drive anymore (I'm 52 now, I was 27 at the time). I don't drive because we are on only one income so I sold my car but I'm sure glad because I hate driving now anyway. I'm scared I will have an accident because I know these things do happen since it happened to me. When I'm in the car with my husband and I see a cyclist I ALWAYS have to get his attention and remind him to keep a safe distance and to be careful as he drives around them. I also still have a fear of choking on food. This is because I spent 2 months in hospital lying flat on my back and in traction because of my injuries and had to eat that way, which it's hard to swallow. So nowadays, I take a lookout time to eat because I have to chew and chew and chew my food so it's a paste I can easily swallow in small sizes. I'm am ALWAYS last to finish my meal anywhere I go. Those are the last 2 symptoms that remained. The flashbacks, the hypervigilance, the nightmares, they all went away after I spent 2 years in therapy. So, I get that he's still having these reactions 20 years after the fact.

Thank you for sharing your story, including the personal things about your family and how your relationship with them has changed. It gave me perspective.

So good to hear this survivor be so assertive about getting the hell out of the building.

He was smart in his thinking to leave the tower at the time when 911 dispatchers were telling callers from tower one to stay put that responders were coming up to those trapped on higher floors. Many of those died. He was correct in leaving & getting his co workers to leave with him. He's a hero. I can't imagine the pain his family felt believing he had died.

I'm convinced this guy and the people on his floor lived because he was hungover and was cranky and said fuck this...i'm out. I know when I'm hungover my tolerance for anything weird is zero.

WOW what an INCREDIBLE story. Brutal. What I found so heartwarming is firstly how you took care of Sophie and secondly your love for your parents (in no particular order). God is so good…..He knows our heart and even when we stray He brings us back.

i had a similar experience in a 30,000 acre forest fire. we had hiked down a steep canyon a few hundred yards towards the fire. there was about a dozen of us. i started being able to hear the fire and see glimpses of flames through the trees downhill from us. the crew boss had stopped us for a breather, and everyone except for me sat or laid on the ground. the crew boss grumbled at me a couple times to relax and sit down. i ignored him. the situation just didn't feel right to me. about the third time he told me to sit down, i shouldered my pack, picked up my saw, and said "nope!" and started hiking back up the hill to the ridge by myself. after a few minutes, i saw the rest of the crew following me. we got flown back to base camp in choppers, and later that evening the crew boss came up to me and apologized and said he had used poor judgement.

He’s very articulate and smart. I love the way he helps me understand what he experienced

I like this guy. What a great story teller. God bless you sir. Sad sad day. You’re a hero. I am 61 years old now and I sit here and think how comfortable and safe I would’ve felt with you.

You are so wonderful for telling such a personal story. Peace be with you for the rest of your life. Hugs from TX.

Bless this man, his strength to recount everything is remarkable. I feel for him still though because I can see that he is still traumatized just by the way he comforts himself by rubbing his arms and other little things. I hope his days get brighter and brighter over time.

I wish it hadn't cut off before he was finished talking and sharing his memorabilia.

@33:39 .. he has candid humor .. "where were you on 911?" "I was in the building" Like you're not going to top me 😂

This guy has had a hard life, I feel so sorry for him, he seems very hurt. I really respect him though. I hope he met someone that he can be himself around, I see that sort of pain among the ppl my brother (RIP) served with in the Navy. It seems like it's hard for them to relate after trauma

Thank you for sharing your story. I listen to two law enforcement officers who are now retired, DutyRon and Ed Wallace on KZfaq, talk about this day and their role. Many of those people who helped have cancer stories to share from the smoke/dust. They were first responders. I can't imagine what being there that day would have been like. Being young probably helped you live through the day. I'm glad you are here to share and wish you a wonderful life moving forward.

TY for ur service. U r truly a hero. May God bless u always.

Sharing this experience is important. Thank you

Thank you Ryan.

The line between life and death on that day was so fine. Ryan did what felt appropriate in the circumstances and his initiative saved scores of people. Without his inspiration many of those people would have returned to their desks and awaited the wrath of inaction. But even so, one locked door or one wrong detour could have led to death.

This poor guy!! When he said 2 of the people he tried to help w/ his shirt sleeve tourniquets didn’t make it…….boy that got me. So sad.

Thank you for your wisdom and story. You have helped so many people!

Thank you so much for sharing your story!! God Bless you and your family !!

This is a powerful story! Strong testimony of guts courage, faith and love.

God be with you. Whatt an interview!! One of the best I've ever heard. Life altering, for sure. This tragedy will stay with anyone,who was old enough at the time. As the older generation had Pearl Harbor, so this is the defining moment for this century. Bless everything everyone who was there, the responders & any body involved in this.

Great testimony and very handsome guy ! Blessings to him .🙏

Thank you I watched this full interview. So open and honest.

I too watched every video I’ve ever found on it. It deeply effects me to this day. And I didn’t personally know one person in New York. But, on that day they became my very own❤

God bless u for sharing your story all these years later I listen to testimonys of loss heartbreaking I'm feel so much for America from Australia

Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻

God bless you, dearest man: you’re one of the heroes who saved countless lives by your ability to remain calm and think QUICKLY. Thank you for sharing your observations. I’ll NEVER get over this. I’m a New Yorker who has been living in Germany since 1996. I’m okay now, in 2023, but I was crazy for over 10 years. I couldn’t stop grieving for all the people whose lives were ruined forever. I’m sorry for all the bad spinoff you’ve suffered; you talk about nobody being able to “upstage” your story, but then immediately say, “but you have to let them talk”. It’s so true: everyone has their own tragic story to tell about where they were and what they were doing when it happened. Bless you for knowing that. I’m determined to be okay about this, but I’m not quite there. Your story makes me love you. I’m praying for you. You’re going to be all right. It’s going to take more time, but your spirit is pure and strong and it will guide you as it always has.

Thank you so much for sharing your story!

This is how I feel right now we are in a 9/11 politically. Happy you made it.

I will alway remember the day and where I was on 9/11. I was 21, and although I had never been to New York, the loss I feel is so personal.

Thank you for sharing this very moving story.

Where in the world has this guy been?! This is the first time I’ve heard an account this transparent. The first floor exit/staircase doors were locked? What an eerie experience. I can not imagine the level of trauma all of those causes.

God bless you for the people you helped

This is hard to watch because you can feel the pain that Ryan is still going thru. Of all the 9/11 videos this one brought me to tears. All of the videos are sad but this one was just emotionally overwhelming.

Thankyou for sharing your story bless you xxx

Live for the people who can't. God bless!

Thank you Ryan ❤Father, I ask you to heal this man, take away his brokenness and give him Your Peace. Thank you for loving us so much. Father, I also pray Ryan reads Your Word. The only way to truly know the Father is to know The Son. Knowing He Jesus Christ is the way, truth and the life. The ONLY way to Heaven is through Jesus. God bless his family too.

Thank you for sharing. ❤

Good job buddy! You saved a lot of people.

I know it doesn't compare, but I had a house fire in 2006 and ever since then whenever I smell smoke I get nervous. So I have a very small understanding of the PTSD this guy has.

I actually don’t think the US Government recognised all the people who survived 9/11 , who went through such traumatic event . Because the chances of getting out of a building like the Towers , especially the higher floors , wasn’t feasible for most of the Companies based there . Those who did are heroes.

Wow this story really got to me this was so emotional ❤️❤️what an amazing story and the date on his id is so eerie thank you for sharing your story

Respect. So happy you survived. God Bless.

I wish we could have seen the rest of his interview.

very nice interview , thank you for sharing his story

This is one of the most informative well expressed interviews

Thank you for sharing your story. As an HSP, I’m affected by worldly events and you pointing out there’s more good than bad out there helps me keep hope for a more peaceful planet 💖🙏🫶🏻🐾

Thanku Ryan. Your description of that horrific tragedy was clear and to the point easy to comprehend and that is not easy to do with that level of trauma you lived through. I never say survived because did any of us survive? God blessed u with a second chance. You are on borrowed time my friend. Also you have the most beautiful blue eyes the eyes that witnessed alot on 911 but remained beautiful.

You seem like a wonderful young man. God Bless you.

Such a lovely down to earth guy and an MJ fan ❤️ I hope you are doing well man cos you are still here for a reason ❤💫🙏

Ryan this is the first time I saw your story and I plan on seeing it again because although I wasn't there on this traumatic day of your life, I'm trying to be there with you and Sophie and those you mentioned. You are an extraordinary man, bless you and thank you. Sincerely, Michelle

He's talking about Fujii which was on 77-81. Brian Clark saved a man named Stanley on the 81st floor. They were told the building was secure and some people who tried to leave had gone down and then back up. This is after the north tower was hit and less than 20 minutes later the south tower.

There was definitely a Houlihan's in Battery Park (which I'm sure is what the Our Father guy on the steps was referring to). I worked at One Chase Plaza and we used to go there.

/this was a very good, detailed , personal account

Dude is real

People on the ground floor lobby exiting elevators were told by security to return to their offices until the second plane hit 17 minutes later, after the north tower had been hit.

Would've like to have seen the photos and mementos up close.

This guy is a hero

with each of these stories, there's a beautiful story of intense immediate friendships and lifetime bonds that are forged over this trauma. I try to take that sense of humanity and love from these stories and pass it on, even though I've been blessed not to have been through anything like this.

I have ptsd and it’s horrible! I have better control over it now but it never truly leaves you! God bless the survivors! God be with the victims and there families! I would to love to meet this amazing hero and just hug him! You can’t Unser what he saw or experienced no one can begin to understand unless you were there! But you can show compassion you can support and you can show love!

Subject matter is 9/11. Interview filmed during Covid pandemic (hear the muffled masked speech of the interviewee.) And people still leave ignorant judgmental comments about this guy giving them “bad vibes?” Okay Karen’s. Grow up.

He said my significant other who isn’t very significant anymore.

Thank you

He seems great I hope he stays in recovery even in jail I send him hope 🙏

Smart guy!! Trusted his instincts.

I think this guy is a hero as well , I was in a Shoneys in South Carolina with family at our weekly meet up for breakfast and saw it on the tv there .

Thank you for sharing your story! I wish there wasn't an ad playing every three minutes - completely distracting. :(

first hand accounts like this are a living history that cannot be matched

Really sucks that the video cuts off before the end of the interview. Just as he's getting ready to show something. WTF???

The amount of ads on this video makes it hard to watch. You realize you can set it to 1 ad right?

He led all 200 something people out of that building.....Incredible...

Ryan- my birthday is 5/7, too. Just found this video and I’m astonished by your courage and love for your mom- I’m just like that with mine. I would absolutely LOVE to connect. Please comment on this if you happen to see this. God bless you, dude.

I currently work in a 3 story building, just three stories...and I don't even go in every day (hybrid situation), just two days a week, and I still avoid the elevator. Less because of worry about something like 9/11 but because I always get nervous about getting stuck in an elevator and having to be in it for hours and hours. Anyway, it's fairly common knowledge about not getting into elevators in fire situations, but I understand some ppl thinking there wasn't anything urgent for *that* building yet. I'm with this guy though, if I feel I have time...I'm taking the stairs. I do it all the time in even 2 to 5 story buildings...there's something about elevators, too enclosed, you don't have much control. I feel like staircases give a sense of ease with which to run if you need to.

Is there a part 2 to this interview? The video ends abruptly as he was about to show some things.

Wow amazing story thank you for sharing

Wow so disappointed the video cut off at the end.

To be "the new guy", and make a quick gut decision in the face of a leader saying " sit down, we'll figure this out"...that's why Morgan Stanley hired him...he has common sense. Whomever made the hiring decision I hope was recognized. He went with his gut and instinct, "F that...get out". He saved so many lives.