The Stairwell That Saved Him | Ottawa News

Twenty-five years after 9/11, survivor Joseph Dittmar recounts his terrifying escape from the South Tower—still standing when the first plane struck the North Tower. Trapped in a windowless room, he evacuated last, descending 105 floors as chaos unfolded. With no cell service and no real understanding of the scale of disaster, he witnessed the North Tower’s devastation firsthand before the second plane hit their own building. Choosing the stairwell over elevators saved his life—he was between floors when the tower shook violently. Reaching the lobby, he saw heroism unfold underground, then heard the South Tower collapse—a sound that haunts him still. Reflecting on the razor-thin margin between life and death, he credits luck and divine providence—and expresses profound gratitude to Canada, especially Gander, for sheltering stranded souls.

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