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Updated Tuesday, February 6, 2024-07:19

  • Special Ground Zero: 20 years later

The New York firefighter who became famous when he appeared in iconic photos with then-US President George W. Bush during his first visit to the ruins of the World Trade Center (WTC) after the attacks of September 11, 2001, died at the age of 91. The authorities reported this Monday.

Photos from September 14, 2001 show

Robert "Bob" Beckwith, then 69 years old and retired

, wearing a helmet and mask, along with then-President Bush (2001-2009) at "Ground Zero."

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The former

Republican president said in a statement on the social network

"When the terrorists attacked, Bob put his uniform back on and, like many brave first responders, braved danger to come to the aid of others.

His bravery embodies the spirit of defiance and resilience of New Yorkers

and Americans after 9/11 "praised Bush, who had occupied the White House since January of that year.

"This iconic photo with President Bush captured a moment that was as moving as it was heartbreaking," said FDNY Chief Laura Kavanagh, announcing that Beckwith died Sunday night.

Bob Beckwith, he said, was one of many retired New York firefighters who were at the WTC ruins "to assist in relief operations."

Perched on the ruins of the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan, Bush, megaphone in hand, cheered on the United States and New York, shouting to rescuers: "I hear you. I hear you. The rest of the world hears you.

And the who demolished these buildings will soon hear from all of us.

Beckwith, born in 1932, was a New York firefighter from 1965 until his retirement in 1994.

The jihadist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States - which left

2,977 dead in total and almost 6,300 injured

, according to the official balance - brought New York to its knees, after the two towers of the WTC were destroyed by two piloted planes. by members of the Islamist group Al Qaeda.

In those skyscrapers, 2,753 people

lost their lives

that day, including

at least 343 firefighters

who went to the scene of the catastrophe.

In 2021, a compensation fund for 9/11 victims estimated that

more people had died from illnesses related to the destruction

caused by the attacks - including cancer among rescuers who cleaned up Ground Zero - than on the day of the attacks, who made history.