Hampshire firefighter says 9/11 memorial climb was incredible and emotional
Gary Vaughn was one of 343 fire fighters who took in the climb in Atlanta in Georgia
To mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, 343 fire fighters climbed over 2,000 steps, or 110 floors, in order to remember the 343 fire fighters who lost their lives during the attacks
236 of those had travelled from the UK representing 48 fire and rescue services locally
One of them was Gary Vaughn, a fire fighter for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service
He explained to us what aspect of it was particularly emoptional
"All the climbers were in full fire kit and we all carried a lanyard with one of the 343 that passed away with us.
So that was that was quite emotional to be able to kind of almost put a face and a name like singularly to your own personal journey up and down the stairs"
Gary added that it was also an honour being able to take part
"The American contingent, some of them were there on that day. That was quite an honour to stand shoulder to shoulder with them
Others had dads, uncles that were at there at the Twin Towers on that day and then they become firefighters as a result of actually talking to their direct sons and daughters."
Gary told us more about the stories he heard in Atlanta surrounding the attacks
"There were numerous stories of obviously just how unbelievable that day was and then, and also the sheer scale of it that kind of happens in the moment.
I think it was the roar of the second one as it hit. It was like, how can this be happening twice kind of thing. And then again, just this sheer kind of anguish and emotion to try and save their brothers and sisters. Just digging them out with their bare hands
Also the selflessness, because in that moment, as most first responders, police, fire ambulance, we all, we don't think of ourselves in that moment and they're exactly the same. It's no different, thousands of miles apart, but ultimately, we do the same job for the same reasons.
I think the word I used most to describe it when people were asking was mad. It was just mad. The scale, the love, you know, bearing in mind, we'd never met these people and it was like we'd been friends forever."