William Rodriguez, who served as a custodian at the World Trade Center's North Tower for nearly two decades, described reliving the events of September 11, 2001, every day. On that morning, he had considered taking a day off due to the pleasant weather but was persuaded by his supervisor to come into work.
He arrived at 8:30 a.m., shortly before American Airlines Flight 11 struck the upper floors of the North Tower. The impact caused a powerful explosion that shook the building, cracked walls, and activated the sprinkler system. Initially mistaking the event for an internal malfunction, Rodriguez soon heard another explosion and screams from above.
He encountered a severely injured man in the basement and assisted him to a loading dock. It was there Rodriguez saw the damage to the tower and realized the scale of the attack. "I saw the hole," he recalled. "I saw the fire and the smoke, which was so dense it covered the antenna of the North Tower."
Possessing a master key that could unlock any door in the Twin Towers, Rodriguez returned to help. He guided police and firefighters through the building, unlocking emergency exits that allowed numerous people to escape. A widely circulated photograph from that day shows Rodriguez, clad in a bright orange safety vest, assisting an injured individual out of the building. He was outside when the North Tower collapsed and sought shelter under a fire truck. Rescued hours later, Rodriguez is widely considered the last survivor to exit the North Tower.
More than two decades later, Rodriguez still keeps his orange vest and the master key. He has dedicated himself to sharing his story and honoring the memories of the approximately 200 friends he lost on 9/11, fearing that the collective memory of the event is fading. He travels internationally, giving interviews and participating in documentaries, aiming to ensure that the sacrifices and the human element of that day are not forgotten. He particularly focuses on educating younger generations who have no direct recollection of the attacks.
Rodriguez estimates his efforts have raised around $122 million for 9/11 victims and their families, with a special focus on assisting survivors who may have been overlooked by aid programs. He stated that the profound experience of that day and the loss of so many friends led to a significant personal transformation, fostering a greater sense of spirituality, compassion, and a continuous desire to help others. "I became addicted to helping," he said.