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American Morning

Reunion Taking Place at Home of WTC Survivor Genelle Guzman in Brooklyn, New York

Aired December 20, 2001 - 09:46   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: We're now going to take you to a reunion that is taking place at the home of Genelle Guzman in Brooklyn, New York. You may remember her. She was the last survivor pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center, following the attacks on September 11th. Her rescuers thought she was dead and didn't even know her identity until they saw a story about here on CNN.

Well today, she is meeting again, under much better circumstances, two of her rescuers.

And CNN's Gary Tuchman is standing by there live for the reunion. What a story -- Gary.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a great story, Paula. Exactly 100 days after the attacks, that last survivor met two of her rescuers. This is the Brooklyn New York home of Genelle Guzman. She was buried under the rubble for 27 hours. She was rushed to Bellvue Hospital in New York City. She was in serious condition. Her leg was crushed. She had lacerations. She was in the hospital for over five weeks, but then she was brought home. She's still undergoing therapy. She can's walk without aide, but she is doing very well at this point.

Last week, we did a story about her. She told us she did not in serious condition. Her leg crushed. Lacerations. In the hospital for over five weeks but then brought home. She is still undergoing therapy. She can't walk without aid but she is doing very well at this point. Last week we did a story about her. She told us she did not know who rescued her. Two men in the Boston suburb of Saugus (ph), Massachusetts watched the story. They saw her face, and said, this is the woman that we rescued. They got in touch with us. We decided we would get them together and have a reunion.

The men, Rick Cushman, who's a member of the National Guard from Saugus, Massachusetts, Brian Buchanan, a former Marine. They were working with the Pitsteel (ph) Emergency Management Agency, and they were there and helped rescue her, and today when they met at this house, they talked for the very first time since that day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GENELLE GUZMAN: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's great seeing you again. GUZMAN: Without you guys I would have been stuck there still.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just glad you came out of it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, something good came out of it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, something very good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: And now with us live, from the left to the right, Rick Cushman, Brian Buchanan in the middle and Genelle Guzman, sitting on the couch.

Genelle, tell me how does it feels to have these two guys sitting next to you? It's the first time you have seen them since September 12.

GUZMAN: Yes, it's a wonderful feeling. It's really great. It's really touching to be here with these guys. I mean, I didn't see them before, so now I'm finally getting to meet these guys. It's really great.

TUCHMAN: What happened is two firemen pulled her out of the top of the rubble, they were handing down the basket, and they came to you guys.

Rick, I want to ask you, when you first saw her, did you think she was going to make it.

RICK CUSHMAN, RESCUER: Yes, I was confident she would. She looked down -- obviously, in a state of shock and pale, but she had opened her eyes and she had spoken to Brian, and moved her hands, and all of the good signs that someone would make it.

TUCHMAN: And, Brian, how did you feel when you walked in here today and saw her?

BRIAN BUCHANAN, RESCUER: I was totally struck speechless. I -- to see her standing up, and you know, and to hug her, it was a great feeling.

TUCHMAN: When she was handed to you that day at 11:00 a.m. on September 12, did you talk with her? Did she talk with you?

BUCHANAN: Briefly. She sort of opened her eyes. I guess she was in shock. I guess she was a little dazed. She opened her eyes, looked at me for a second, and asked me if she was out yet. I said, well, yes, you're out, it will just be a few more minutes and you're good to go.

TUCHMAN: Genelle, do you remember saying that to, Brian?

GUZMAN: Yes, I do, definitely.

BUCHANAN: I remember him saying, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) just a few more, yes, we will be there shortly. I remember saying that. Genelle, how are you feeling right now? Your leg is crushed, you are walking with a cane. How are you doing? Physically, it's getting there, it's really getting there, but the leg is no movement to the fullest extent, but still getting along.

GUZMAN: And, guys, are you glad you came from New York to Boston today to see, Genelle?

BUCHANAN: Yes.

CUSHMAN: Oh, yes, totally.

TUCHMAN: We told so many sad stories over the last hundred days, it's wonderful to be able to tell a happy story today.

Paula, back to you.

ZAHN: What a portrait of strength all the way around. Thank you.

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