Joe Torrillo is an inspirational figure, best known for serving as a firefighter in the Fire Department of New York. A role model to many, Joe tells the tale of how he survived the horrific attacks of 9/11 when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre came crashing down after they were hit by terrorist jets. Today, Joe is highly sought as a public and keynote speaker, inspiring audiences with his will to survive in the face of great adversity.
In the years before the 9/11 attack, Joe had played a pivotal role in the creation and launch of The Fire Zone, a fire safety venue to educate children in the dangers of fire. In partnership with The Fire Zone, Joe was invited to create a ‘Billy Blazes’ action doll with toy brand Fisher-Price. On the morning of the 9/11 attacks, Joe was on his way to the launch of his collaboration when disaster struck and he witnessed the first jet crash into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre. In a bid to help his fellow firefighters, Joe abandoned his launch and borrowed bunker uniform to join them in action.
Upon arriving on the scene, Joe witnessed the second jet crash into the south tower and before long it fell burying Joe alive beneath the rubble. Incredibly, Joe was pulled from the rubble with various injuries such as a fractured skull, broken limbs and internal bleeding. Unfortunately, disaster struck once more and the North Tower collapsed burying Joe alive once again. Eventually, Joe was rescued once more and reached the hospital to make a full recovery, incredibly surviving the devasting 9/11 attacks after being buried alive twice.
Today, Joe is highly sought as a keynote speaker for a range of corporate events telling the tales of his heroic attempts to save lives. A miracle to still be alive, Joe tells audiences of how he was twice buried alive and ensures that those who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks are never forgotten. In remembrance of the 343 firefighters that lost their lives whilst serving in the 9/11 attacks, Joe dedicated his ‘Billy Blazes’ doll as a key to remember those individuals and continues to champion the work of servicemen and women today. Guaranteed to end every speaking event with a standing ovation, Joe Torrillo is an inspirational role model who is a hit with all audiences.
