Suffolk firefighter who watched 9/11 four months into career to honour those killed 25 years on
Five Suffolk firefighters are taking on a symbolic 110-floor climb in the United States today to honour the 343 New York firefighters who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.
A Suffolk firefighter who watched the September 11 attacks unfold just four months after qualifying says it is a "great honour" to be marking the 25th anniversary alongside firefighters from around the world.
Crew Manager Tony Watson, from Stowmarket Fire Station, is one of five members of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) taking part in the 2026 Memorial Stair Climb in Atlanta today (Saturday 5 September).
They are joining more than 1,200 firefighters from the United States and around the world for the commemorative event.
Participants will complete the equivalent of 110 floors, representing the height of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers.
The Suffolk firefighters will each carry the name and photograph of one of the 343 members of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) who died during the attacks on 11 September 2001.
'Something you're never going to forget'
For Tony, the event comes 25 years after he watched the attacks unfold as a newly-qualified firefighter.
He was 19 years old at the time and had qualified just four months earlier.
Tony said: "To sit there and watch the awful day unfold, it's something that you're never going to forget."
A quarter of a century later, he is still serving as a firefighter and says being chosen to take part in the commemorations is a significant honour.
He said: "It's a great huge honour because if you think 343 firefighters obviously tragically lost their lives that day and to be one of 343 UK firefighters to actually go out there, one for each firefighter that sadly lost their lives, it's a great, great honour."
Tony said those travelling are also representing the wider firefighting community.
He added: "I think that we're representing every single firefighter throughout the world and the jobs that they do on a day-to-day basis."
110 floors in full firefighting kit
Tony, Laura Grinsted, Grant Whitehead, Tim Cheale and Nick Floyd make up the Suffolk contingent.
SFRS says the five were selected through a national ballot process to take part in the event.
Tony said the 110-floor challenge will be completed in structural firefighting kit, including boots and helmets.
Some of those taking part previously completed a practice event at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton.
Tony described climbing the equivalent of 110 floors in full kit as "quite challenging".
Ahead of travelling to the US, he said: "It's going to be hot, but when we're out in America, it's not just going to be us.
"We're going to have hundreds and hundreds of American firefighters and emergency services out there doing it with us as well."
'A heavy honour to hold'
Tony was only four months into his firefighting career when the attacks happened.
He described watching events unfold on television as "very daunting", but said what happened also strengthened the determination of people within the profession.
He said: "I think that the general consensus was that it spurred people on to continue doing heroic jobs and being a firefighter to continue helping and saving people."
Asked about the significance of taking part 25 years later, Tony described it as a "heavy honour to hold".
More than £1,300 raised
Alongside the commemorations, the Suffolk team has been raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity, the Blue Light Card Foundation and the US-based Terry Farrell Foundation.
SFRS says more than £1,300 has been raised.
A planned continuous ladder climb at the Buttermarket in Ipswich was postponed at short notice because of the major incident at Dunwich Heath, but the service says members of the public continued to donate.
Tony said the response was an important reminder of the support firefighters receive from the communities they serve.
He said the charities are particularly important because firefighters can be exposed to traumatic incidents through their work.
"Obviously, as firefighters, we get unfortunate, we get to see lots of trauma," he said.
"So sometimes that can play a big part in firefighters' lives.
"So there's lots of psychological help that we can get."
SFRS says the money raised will support charities providing help to firefighters, emergency service personnel and their families.
The team is also visiting American fire stations and attending memorial events during its time in Atlanta, before returning to the UK on Monday 7 September.