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American Morning
Story of One Woman's Recovery After She Was Pulled from Rubble Alive a Day After Twin Towers Collapsed
Aired December 10, 2001 - 07:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: As workers continue their round-the- clock efforts to remove debris and look for bodies still buried at ground zero, CNN's Gary Tuchman brings us the remarkable story of one woman's recovery, after she was pulled from the rubble alive only a day after the buildings collapsed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Physical therapy now takes up much of her time, but Genelle Guzman knows she's a lucky woman.
We're happy for you, Genelle, especially after seeing you (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
GENELLE GUZMAN, WTC SURVIVOR: Yes, when I look back on those pictures and I -- it's amazing.
TUCHMAN: Pictures of herself in the hospital. Genelle was treated for a crushed leg and multiple abrasions. She was the last survivor pulled out of the rubble of the World Trade Center 27 hours after the Towers collapsed.
GUZMAN: I think I going to die, when I saw that it became dark and no one came and I'm not hearing any noises nowhere around, I think I'm not going to make it. I'm going to die here. I'm going to see myself slowly die here.
TUCHMAN: Genelle slept, pinned under the rubble, but the next day her prayers were answered. She was found and dug out by a rescuer, whose identity, to this day, is a mystery to her.
GUZMAN: I'm just so thankful to be here. I can see my life in a completely different direction. I just want to have a family -- be close to my family, and you know, just give praise and thanks for just being here.
TUCHMAN: As soon as he heard about the disaster, Genelle's boyfriend, Roger McMillen, raced to the World Trade Center. She was in a stairwell on the 13th floor when the North Tower collapsed.
ROGER MCMILLEN, GUZMAN'S BOYFRIEND: I mean, I started crying -- I mean, you know, it's not something that you can really explain as to how you feel. She thought she was dead definitely.
TUCHMAN: He knew she was inside, because Genelle left him a chilling voicemail on his cell phone, while she was still in her office on the 64th floor.
GUZMAN: Honey, I'm still inside the building. I don't know. We have to wait until somebody comes and get us out. OK? I'll try and call you back again. Bye. I love you.
TUCHMAN: Roger went home and mourned, and then got a call the next day to come to the hospital. Genelle had been found.
What did you say to her?
MCMILLEN: I cried. We both cried.
TUCHMAN: And then what did you say?
MCMILLEN: Honey, what took you so long to get out? She goes, I was listening to orders.
TUCHMAN: Genelle hopes to walk someday without assistance.
GUZMAN: I feel good. I feel really good, you know. It feels like -- it's so amazing, you know, to be here, sitting in here, not in a hospital bed.
TUCHMAN: And Genelle had a surprise waiting for her when she got out of the hospital. Her boyfriend asked her to marry him, and she said yes.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: And we wish them the best of luck as they start their new life together.
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