Description: Last Man Down by FDNY Battalion Commander Richard 'Pitch' Picciotto, Richard 'Pitch' Picciotto The story of Battalion Commander Richard Picciotto who, on 11 September, survived the collapse of the North Tower of the World Trade Center FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description On September 11th, leading seven companies of firefighters up the B stairway to Tower 1 of the World Trade Centre, Battalion Commander Richard Pitch Picciotto was the highest ranking fire department commander in the twin towers when Tower 2 fell. Pitch and his men were on the 17th floor racing upward when the world seemed to explode around them. Out of radio communication with the command centre and with no time t o reflect Pitch ordered the evacuation of Tower 1. Firefighters under his command staged an orderly retreat until word came that the stairwell was blocked with debris. From his knowledge of the Towers gained during service after the 1993 WTC bombing Pitch was able to lead the firefighters to an alternate stairwell and the descent continued. After 8 minutes when they reached floor 12 Pitch was met with a horrifying sight: more than 50 civilians sitting mutely at desks seemed immobilised in his flashlights glare. When he ordered them out, out, OUT! wheelchairs began to roll to the door; these were the workers too old, crippled or weak to have made their way out on their own. Pitch ordered his men to stop and form a human bucket brigade to thrust the civilians out of the building, and blue uniforms lined the stairwell. 14 minutes had elapsed since the collapse of Tower 2.Pushing and cajoling them down and out Pitch was in the 7th floor stairwell when a sound like thunder was heard from above. It took eight seconds for Tower 1 to fall, accordioning into a mound of burning rubble many have likened to hell. Pitch and a handful of survivors woke to find themselves buried on the landing of the second floor, in an inky cavity broken by the screams of injured men. This is the story of how they made it out, and how Pitch Picciotto, the highest ranking firefighter survived the collapse of the twin towers and led his men to safety. Notes The paperback edition of Batallion Commander Richard Picciottos story of how, on September 11th, he lead seven companies of firefighters to rescue over 50 workers from the twelfth floor of the World Trade Centres North Tower as it fell. The hardback edition of this title was a Sunday Times number 1 bestseller. Author Biography A former New York City police officer, Chief Picciotto had been a Fire marshal, an arson investigator, a lieutenant and a captain, prior to becoming chief in 1992. He holds a BBA degree and has been the recipient of departmental awards and commendations for bravery and meritorious service. He lives in Port Chester, New York with his family. Review INTERVIEWS: R2 STEVE WRIGHT SHOW will be interviewing Pitch in New York on Friday 21 February - ** this was cancelled as Pitch had to attended a funeral** REVIEWS: This book is no literary masterpiece but its strength lies in itsraw edges, the realism of the language and the honesty of the opinionsBIRMINGHAM SUNDAY MERCURY This is a harrowing, personal account that sharply brings into deadening focus the terrible events of that day in late summerWORCESTER EVE NEWS Picciottos moment-by-moment description of events are a lasting tribute to the 343 fallen fire fighters who died on 11 September 2001JACK O Promotional A powerful, first-hand account of the World Trade Center tragedy Includes a new chapter, where the author reflects on the year since the events of September 11th LAST MAN DOWN is a Sunday Times No 1 bestseller and it is still on the bestseller list seven months after publication The trade edition has already reprinted ten times Serialised as Radio 4s Book of the Week to tie in with the first anniversary of September 11th Hugely successful author tour in the UK for the hardback publication Serial rights sold to the Sunday Times and New Idea in Australia A royalty being paid to the New York Firemans Fund Kirkus UK Review The bravery of the New York firefighters on September 11 2001 was an inspiration to the world. In this book, the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the collapse of the World Trade Centre tells his story with the help of an adept but modest professional writer, Daniel Paisner. Summoned to the tower when the first plane hit, Battalion Commander Picciotto assisted in the evacuation of those below the affected floors, and was in the process of leaving the South Tower when it collapsed, trapping him and a few of his men in a pocket of air below the enormous mass of wreckage. Cut off from the outside world, their situation was precarious to say the least, their climb to eventual safety fraught with difficulties. The personal story is affecting enough: the hasty prayer for a quick death rather than slow immolation, the slow slide down a collapsing staircase - like a slow free fall, where you never fully leave the ground because the ground is free falling with you. But it is in the end secondary to the horror and splendour of the occasion - the horror of the falling bodies of those throwing themselves from the upper floors, the disabled occupants of the building struggling down the stairs, floor after floor - but the splendour of the astonishing bravery of both victims and rescuers. Then there are the moments of extraordinary black farce: the man clinging to his computer, attempting to send messages to his stockbroker down a severed line, with the building aflame and collapsing around him. As a record of a defining moment of history this is but a first and personal sketch, but it has the merits of immediacy and first-hand observation, and from start to finish is deeply impressive. (Kirkus UK) Long Description On September 11th, leading seven companies of firefighters up the B stairway to Tower 1 of the World Trade Centre, Battalion Commander Richard Pitch Picciotto was the highest ranking fire department commander in the twin towers when Tower 2 fell. Pitch and his men were on the 17th floor racing upward when the world seemed to explode around them. Out of radio communication with the command centre and with no time t o reflect Pitch ordered the evacuation of Tower 1. Firefighters under his command staged an orderly retreat until word came that the stairwell was blocked with debris. From his knowledge of the Towers gained during service after the 1993 WTC bombing Pitch was able to lead the firefighters to an alternate stairwell and the descent continued. After 8 minutes when they reached floor 12 Pitch was met with a horrifying sight: more than 50 civilians sitting mutely at desks seemed immobilised in his flashlights glare. When he ordered them out, out, OUT! wheelchairs began to roll to the door; these were the workers too old, crippled or weak to have made their way out on their own. Pitch ordered his men to stop and form a human bucket brigade to thrust the civilians out of the building, and blue uniforms lined the stairwell. 14 minutes had elapsed since the collapse of Tower 2.Pushing and cajoling them down and out Pitch was in the 7th floor stairwell when a sound like thunder was heard from above. It took eight seconds for Tower 1 to fall, accordioning into a mound of burning rubble many have likened to hell. Pitch and a handful of survivors woke to find themselves buried on the landing of the second floor, in an inky cavity broken by the screams of injured men. This is the story of how they made it out, and how Pitch Picciotto, the highest ranking firefighter survived the collapse of the twin towers and led his men to safety. Promotional "Headline" The No. 1 bestselling true story of Battalion Commander Richard Picciotto who, on 11 September, survived the collapse of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Description for Sales People A powerful, first-hand account of the World Trade Center tragedy Includes a new chapter, where the author reflects on the year since the events of September 11thLAST MAN DOWN is a Sunday Times No 1 bestseller and it is still on the bestseller list seven months after publicationThe trade edition has already reprinted ten times Serialised as Radio 4s Book of the Week to tie in with the first anniversary of September 11th Hugely successful author tour in the UK for the hardback publicationSerial rights sold to the Sunday Times and New Idea in AustraliaA royalty being paid to the New York Firemans Fund Details ISBN0752849417 Pages 272 Publisher Orion Publishing Co ISBN-10 0752849417 ISBN-13 9780752849416 Format Paperback Imprint Orion Place of Publication London Country of Publication United Kingdom DEWEY 363.378092 Media Book Language English Illustrations 30 Subtitle The Firemans Story: The Heroic Account of How Pitch Picciotto Survived the Collapse of the Twin Towers Short Title Last Man Down UK Release Date 2003-02-06 Year 2003 Publication Date 2003-02-06 Author Richard Pitch Picciotto Audience General NZ Release Date 2003-04-30 AU Release Date 2003-04-30 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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Book Title: Last Man Down: The Fireman's Story: The Heroic Account of How Pitch Picciotto Survived the Collapse of the Twin Towers
Item Height: 116mm
Item Width: 179mm
Author: Fdny Battalion Commander Richard 'pitch' Picciotto
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
Publication Year: 2003
Genre: Biographies & True Stories
Item Weight: 182g
Number of Pages: 272 Pages