Twin towers hero remembered

Friends and family are trying to get a bravery award for Rick Rescorla

Cornwall-born Twin Towers hero Rick Rescorla was remembered on Thursday at a simple ceremony in his home town on the second anniversary of the New York terrorist attack.

The 62-year-old Vietnam War veteran died as he helped 2,700 people to escape the South Tower of the World Trade Center, where he was a security chief, during the atrocity on 11 September, 2001.

On Thursday at 1346 BST, the time the attacks started, his cousin, John Daniels, and lifelong-friend, Mervyn Sullivan, laid flowers at a waterside memorial in his home town of Hayle, west Cornwall.

Mr Daniels, landlord of the town's Cornish Arms pub, said their tribute was also on behalf of Mr Rescorla's widow, Susan, who lives in the United States.

US citizen

He said: "We had a minute's silence and had a thought about him."

He said he was still hoping Mr Rescorla's heroism would be recognised by the UK government.

St Ives MP Andrew George has already written to the US President to suggest that Mr Rescorla be given a posthumous honour.

Mr Rescorla was granted US citizenship in the late 1960s.

He sang Cornish songs to keep up the spirits of those around him while making sure they left the building after it was hit by a hijacked airliner.

His body has never been found.