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9/11 Survivors: Those Who Escaped the South Tower via Stairwell A : E 175
In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen explore the harrowing survival stories from the South Tower during the 9/11 attacks. When United Airlines Flight 175 struck between floors 77-85, only one stairwell remained intact - Stairwell A. Faced with conflicting information and impossible choices, 18 people made the critical decision that saved their lives.
The episode follows the remarkable stories of Brian Clark, who risked his own escape to save a trapped stranger, and Stanley Praimnath, who survived the plane's wing slicing through his office. Kaycee and Julie examine how split-second decisions, leadership under pressure, and trusting your instincts can mean the difference between life and death.
A powerful reminder that in our darkest moments, the choices we make and the compassion we show can change everything.
00:00 Welcome to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast
00:28 The Harrowing Tale of Stairwell A
02:01 Brian Clark: A Leader in Crisis
02:57 The Twin Towers: Engineering Marvels and Vulnerabilities
03:53 The First Impact: North Tower Hit
05:05 A Fatal Announcement in the South Tower
07:22 The Second Impact: South Tower Hit
12:13 The Critical Decision: Up or Down?
15:40 A Miraculous Rescue Amidst Chaos
18:37 Brian and Stanley's Harrowing Escape
19:43 Ron DCO's Fateful Decision
21:18 The Descent Through Stairwell A
24:04 Reaching the Ground Floor
26:10 The Collapse of the South Tower
27:37 Ron De Francesco's Miraculous Survival
29:34 The Aftermath and Psychological Impact
32:37 Lessons Learned from 9/11
35:20 The Power of Human Connection
37:36 Reflections and Final Thoughts
Email us! [email protected]
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/
Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/
References for Stairwell A Episode
Primary Survivor Accounts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Clark_(September_11_survivor)
Detailed account of Clark's escape, the 81st floor decision point, and rescue of Stanley Praimnath
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Praimnath
Account of seeing Flight 175 approaching, diving under desk, and rescue by Brian Clark
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/canadian-last-known-person-to-escape-world-trade-center-on-911-8660497
Ron DiFrancesco's story as the last person to escape the South Tower
https://www.yahoo.com/news/final-survivor-of-south-tower-collapse-struggles-with-scars-of-9-11.html
Ron DiFrancesco's post-9/11 trauma and recovery
Official Documentation & Reports
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/9/11_Commission_Report/Chapter_9
Official government analysis of evacuations and emergency response
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_September_11_attacks
Comprehensive data on casualties, survivors, and evacuation details
https://www.foxnews.com/us/september-11-2001-timeline-events
Includes exact wording of "Building Two is secure" announcement
https://www.thetachi.org/9-11-timeline
Detailed timeline with specific announcement times and wording
Aircraft and Technical Details
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_175
Boeing 767 specifications, fuel capacity, impact speed, and hijacker details
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_of_the_World_Trade_Center
Technical details of impact zones, stairwell damage, and building collapse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_767
Aircraft specifications and technical details
Building Construction & Design
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_of_the_World_Trade_Center
Tube-frame construction details, structural design, and stairwell layout
https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/world-trade-center-construction-unique.htm
"Tube within a tube" design explanation and structural innovations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center_(1973–2001)
Comprehensive building specifications, including 236 perimeter columns and 47 core columns
https://www.history.com/articles/world-trade-center-twin-towers-construction-facts
Revolutionary structural design and construction innovations
Evacuation Analysis
https://www.history.com/articles/world-trade-center-stairwell-design-9-11
Analysis of stairwell design, evacuation challenges, and Stairwell A survival
https://www.hstoday.us/featured/september-11-escaping-the-south-tower-and-a-framework-of-surviving-an-infrastructure-disaster/
Kevin Dorrian's escape account and survival analysis
https://www.foxnews.com/us/stairwell-b-story-14-survivors-north-tower-9-11
Context on North Tower Stairwell B survivors for comparison
Emergency Response & Aftermath
https://www.police1.com/september-11/articles/surviving-in-stairwell-b-a-port-authority-officers-story-of-survival-after-steel-concrete-came-crashing-down-on-him-during-the-world-trade-centers-north-tower-collapse-WZGuq2qQBiN5HV1u/
Emergency responder perspective and rescue operations
https://www.npr.org/2004/06/17/1962517/timeline-for-united-airlines-flight-175
Official timeline of Flight 175 hijacking and impact
Documentaries Referenced
Featured Brian Clark and Stanley Praimnath's story
Documentary featuring multiple survivor accounts
Documentary chronicling various survivor stories
View all episodes
By Kaycee McIntosh, Julie Henningsen, Bleav
3.8
375375 ratings
In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen explore the harrowing survival stories from the South Tower during the 9/11 attacks. When United Airlines Flight 175 struck between floors 77-85, only one stairwell remained intact - Stairwell A. Faced with conflicting information and impossible choices, 18 people made the critical decision that saved their lives.
The episode follows the remarkable stories of Brian Clark, who risked his own escape to save a trapped stranger, and Stanley Praimnath, who survived the plane's wing slicing through his office. Kaycee and Julie examine how split-second decisions, leadership under pressure, and trusting your instincts can mean the difference between life and death.
A powerful reminder that in our darkest moments, the choices we make and the compassion we show can change everything.
00:00 Welcome to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast
00:28 The Harrowing Tale of Stairwell A
02:01 Brian Clark: A Leader in Crisis
02:57 The Twin Towers: Engineering Marvels and Vulnerabilities
03:53 The First Impact: North Tower Hit
05:05 A Fatal Announcement in the South Tower
07:22 The Second Impact: South Tower Hit
12:13 The Critical Decision: Up or Down?
15:40 A Miraculous Rescue Amidst Chaos
18:37 Brian and Stanley's Harrowing Escape
19:43 Ron DCO's Fateful Decision
21:18 The Descent Through Stairwell A
24:04 Reaching the Ground Floor
26:10 The Collapse of the South Tower
27:37 Ron De Francesco's Miraculous Survival
29:34 The Aftermath and Psychological Impact
32:37 Lessons Learned from 9/11
35:20 The Power of Human Connection
37:36 Reflections and Final Thoughts
Email us! [email protected]
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/
Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/
References for Stairwell A Episode
Primary Survivor Accounts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Clark_(September_11_survivor)
Detailed account of Clark's escape, the 81st floor decision point, and rescue of Stanley Praimnath
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Praimnath
Account of seeing Flight 175 approaching, diving under desk, and rescue by Brian Clark
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/canadian-last-known-person-to-escape-world-trade-center-on-911-8660497
Ron DiFrancesco's story as the last person to escape the South Tower
https://www.yahoo.com/news/final-survivor-of-south-tower-collapse-struggles-with-scars-of-9-11.html
Ron DiFrancesco's post-9/11 trauma and recovery
Official Documentation & Reports
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/9/11_Commission_Report/Chapter_9
Official government analysis of evacuations and emergency response
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_September_11_attacks
Comprehensive data on casualties, survivors, and evacuation details
https://www.foxnews.com/us/september-11-2001-timeline-events
Includes exact wording of "Building Two is secure" announcement
https://www.thetachi.org/9-11-timeline
Detailed timeline with specific announcement times and wording
Aircraft and Technical Details
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_175
Boeing 767 specifications, fuel capacity, impact speed, and hijacker details
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_of_the_World_Trade_Center
Technical details of impact zones, stairwell damage, and building collapse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_767
Aircraft specifications and technical details
Building Construction & Design
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_of_the_World_Trade_Center
Tube-frame construction details, structural design, and stairwell layout
https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/world-trade-center-construction-unique.htm
"Tube within a tube" design explanation and structural innovations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center_(1973–2001)
Comprehensive building specifications, including 236 perimeter columns and 47 core columns
https://www.history.com/articles/world-trade-center-twin-towers-construction-facts
Revolutionary structural design and construction innovations
Evacuation Analysis
https://www.history.com/articles/world-trade-center-stairwell-design-9-11
Analysis of stairwell design, evacuation challenges, and Stairwell A survival
https://www.hstoday.us/featured/september-11-escaping-the-south-tower-and-a-framework-of-surviving-an-infrastructure-disaster/
Kevin Dorrian's escape account and survival analysis
https://www.foxnews.com/us/stairwell-b-story-14-survivors-north-tower-9-11
Context on North Tower Stairwell B survivors for comparison
Emergency Response & Aftermath
https://www.police1.com/september-11/articles/surviving-in-stairwell-b-a-port-authority-officers-story-of-survival-after-steel-concrete-came-crashing-down-on-him-during-the-world-trade-centers-north-tower-collapse-WZGuq2qQBiN5HV1u/
Emergency responder perspective and rescue operations
https://www.npr.org/2004/06/17/1962517/timeline-for-united-airlines-flight-175
Official timeline of Flight 175 hijacking and impact
Documentaries Referenced
Featured Brian Clark and Stanley Praimnath's story
Documentary featuring multiple survivor accounts
Documentary chronicling various survivor stories
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