9/11 responder calls for accountability as health legacy endures
Former New York firefighter Richard Roeill says Ground Zero responders continue to face trauma, illness and loss, while recalling the solidarity that followed the attacks.
Richard Roeill, a former New York City firefighter and 9/11 first responder, says the attacks remain a living crisis for responders affected by trauma, illness and the deaths of colleagues.
In an interview with France 24, Roeill said responders were misled about the dangers of toxic air at Ground Zero. He described declining lung capacity, repeated funerals and the continuing emotional burden of losing fellow firefighters.
Roeill called for accountability and long-term healthcare for those exposed to the air at the site. The interview material does not specify the measures he is seeking, and his claims about exposure and health outcomes are presented as his testimony.
He also recalled 12 September as a moment when distinctions of race, religion and gender temporarily receded. Roeill said the compassion and shared humanity he witnessed then offered a reminder of the solidarity he believes the world needs again.
Roeill described a continuing bond among “legacy” firefighters: children of responders who died after 9/11 and have followed their parents into the profession. He said their camaraderie helps keep their parents’ legacies alive.
Despite the consequences, Roeill said he would still have responded as he did on 11 September.
