Season 1: Episode 7: "Under the Rubble" Part 1 with Will Jimeno

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Will Jimeno, a rookie officer with the Port Authority Police Department, was just beginning his shift in midtown Manhattan when news of the terrorist attacks broke. Just nine months earlier, the former U.S. Marine had graduated from the police academy during a ceremony held at the World Trade Center’s Marriot Hotel.

After seeing the towers aflame on television, Will boarded a bus full of police officers headed downtown. Upon arriving at the World Trade Center, Will joined Sgt. John McLoughlin and several other officers in collecting specialized rescue equipment to aid in the evacuation. As the team made their way through the shopping mall beneath the buildings, suddenly and without warning, the South Tower began to collapse above them.

When everything settled, Will found that he had managed to survive, and was trapped 30 feet beneath the pile of debris. It would be hours until Will was found and a daring rescue to free him and Sgt. McLoughlin would commence.

Detective Scott Strauss of the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit crawled into the hole with Will, with no way out until he could be dug out with Will, and began the long process of freeing the trapped officer.

Listen to this week's episode to hear Will's perspective of the rescue and join us next week when we talk to Detective Strauss!