Blind since birth, Michael Hingson relied on his guide dog Roselle on the morning of September 11, 2001. From his office on the 78th floor of the North Tower, he felt the building shake after the impact of the plane. Flames and smoke were visible, but Michael could only depend on Roselle, who calmly rose from under his desk. Her steady presence reassured him that they had time to evacuate safely.
With colleague David Frank and others, Michael began the descent of 1,460 steps. Along the way, they comforted panicked survivors, even pausing to hug and encourage a woman who feared she wouldn’t make it. Firefighters rushing upward stopped to pet Roselle, a fleeting moment of warmth amid the chaos. When Frank began to lose hope, Michael reminded him, “If Roselle and I can get down these stairs, so can you.”
Reaching the lobby, the group was directed to another exit due to falling debris. Outside, they witnessed the South Tower engulfed in flames—then collapsing. Roselle guided Michael through choking dust until she found a subway entrance, giving them clean air just before the North Tower fell minutes later.
That night, after returning home, Michael removed Roselle’s harness. Rather than collapse from exhaustion, she wagged her tail and reached for her toy. She had done her job and was ready to play. Their incredible escape quickly spread across the country, and Roselle became a symbol of courage and loyalty.
Roselle was later honored for canine excellence, but she developed health problems Michael believed were caused by the toxic air of 9/11. She lived until 2011, passing peacefully with Michael by her side. For him, their bond was unbreakable: he provided the direction, and Roselle gave the trust and courage to survive history’s darkest day.