 |
BLIND FAITH
(cutting from the Sunday People sept 16th 2001 exclusive by Stewart Dickson)
Guide dog battles BACK into inferno to lead his owner 70 floors to safety!!
A blind man told last night how his devoted guide dog battled back into the World Trade Center to lead him 70 floors to safety.
Eduardo Rivera who believed he was going to die while trapped high in the north tower, pushed his labrador Dorado downstairs because he didn't want the dog to perish with him.
But incredibly the dog fought his way back against the tide of fleeing office workers to return to Eduardo's side, thenguide his owner all the way down to safety.
"I owe my life to Dorado - my companion and best friend" said Eduardo 42.
AMAZING
"I thought I was lost forever - the noise and the heat were terrifying - but I had to give Dorado the chance of escape. So I unclipped his lead, ruffled his head gave him a nudge and ordered Dorado to go.
"I hoped he would be able to quickly run down the stairs without me and get to safety. I thought he'd be so scared he's run.
"But when he returned to my side a few minutes later and guided me down 70 flights and out into the street, it was amazing."
He added "It was then I knew for certain he loved me just as much as I loved him. He was prepared to die in the hope that he might save my life."
Eduardo, a computer operator had arrived with 4 year old Dorado for work in the north tower early Tuesday morning.
As thefirst jet hit the building, staff on his floor began to flee.
Eduardo instinctively reached out to the faithful companion who spent each working day quietly beneath his desk. He picked up Dorado's reins and th dog led him to the emergency exits.
But the stairwells were already clogged with panic-stricken workers desperate to escape the smoke and flames.
Eduardo said "People were pushing and shoving past me. Everywhere there was a sense of terror.
"Not being able to see made the whole thing even more horrific. There was just the noise of people shouting and screaming and praying.
"I could feel the smoke filling up my lungs asnd the heat was just unbearable"
He added "Not having any sight I knew I wouldn't be able to run down the stairs and through all the obstacles like other people. I was resigned to dying and decided to free Dorado to give him the chance of escape. It wasn't fair that we should both die in hell."
A heroic woman worker in the tower risked her own life to stay with Eduardo after he had releasee the dog.
The five minutes later Eduardo felt something familiar by his side.
Dorado had returned back up the stairs towards the blaze. Eduardo said "I couldn't believe it I wanted him to escape but having him by my side did make me feel safer."
It was then that they began to ease their way down all those flights of stairs.
Eduardo said "Everything was in chaso. Glass shattering around my head and people rushing down the stairs.
Struggling
"It was slow going because ther were so many people struggling to get out but Dorado kept nudging me down step by step.
"It was like hell in there, but Dorado wouldn't leave me"
Eduardo, originally from Colombia, but now living in New York is recovering at home from the chosk of his ordeal. He said "I owe my life to Dorado and the woman who stayed with me.
Dorado will always be my best pal"/cutting ends