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9/11 first responder struggles with the 'eventual deaths' of his peers
New York Post • • nation
Key Points:
- Scott Strauss, a former NYPD detective, has not worn a watch since losing his Timex at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, marking time instead through remembrances and milestones.
- Strauss recounts the 14- and 22-hour rescue ordeal of two trapped Port Authority officers, Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin, who were among only 20 survivors pulled from the rubble.
- The long-term health effects of 9/11 exposure have led to a growing death toll from related illnesses, now surpassing the immediate fatalities of the attacks, with thousands monitored by the World Trade Center Health Program.
- Despite his own serious health struggles linked to 9/11, Strauss has found meaning in family milestones, including his sons becoming police officers and friendships forged with fellow responders like Jimeno.
- Recently, Strauss received a new Timex watch from the Jimeno family as a symbolic gesture, though he remains hesitant to wear it, expressing gratitude for the time he has been given.
