Take a look back at what is considered the biggest sea rescue in U.S. history – CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBSNew York) – After the collapse of the Twin Towers, thousands of people were trapped without access to the metro, roads or bridges.

New Yorkers turned to the river, where boaters jumped into action.

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CBS2’s Aundrea Cline-Thomas has the lesser-known story of historic water evacuations.

Twenty years later, the NY Waterway ferry, Captain Richard Thornton, is still on the Hudson River.

“Every now and then you are struck by the horrors you witnessed that day,” Thornton said.

On September 11, 2001, on his usual route, he saw planes crashing into the World Trade Center.

“I just turned around. I didn’t call anyone. I did not get clearance from the Coast Guard, port operations, or management. I kind of stole the ferry and headed downtown, ”Thornton said.

Full coverage: September 11 twenty years later

Ferries were among the first boats to reach shore to encounter crowds of people misty in a haze of smoke and dust.

“Manhattan is an island. When bridges and tunnels are closed, the only way to get in or out is by boat, ”said author Jessica Dulong.

The John J. Harvey water pump was the primary source of water for the firefighters. Personal sailboats and sailors rushed to the burning island, improvising along the way.

“Some people were jumping in the river and coming out of Manhattan in panic mode. So we stopped to pick up a few people in the water, ”Thornton said.

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With few docks in the area, makeshift and sometimes risky techniques were used for boarding.

Justine Cuccia was eight months pregnant when she and her family carefully set off on a private boat. But another mother, with a newborn, was afraid to get along.

“They wanted her to give the baby and take her step, because they were afraid she would fall,” Cuccia said.

With the growing urgency, Cuccia took action.

“With that big belly, I go over to her and say, ‘Will you give me your baby?’ And she looks at me a little, looks at my belly, hands me her baby… I take the baby in time for her to get on the boat, I give her a little kiss on the head, I give her back. back of the boat with my family. She stayed, whatever, “Cuccia said.

Up to 500,000 people were reportedly rescued that day, the largest water drain in history.

Dulong documented the lesser-known stories of the heroism of ordinary people in his book “Saved at the Seawall – Stories from the September 11 Boat Lift”.

“I hope that looking back 20 years, we can see that coming together in this way is still possible,” Dulong said.

She said it was always possible, even during a pandemic.

“Wait a minute, you’re looking at the worst of humanity, the planes crashing into the towers. The next minute you see the best, ”Thornton said.

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Because when so much was lost, our collective humanity was all we had.