Ron DiFrancesco is recognized as the last person to escape the South Tower of the World Trade Center before its total collapse on September 11, 2001. Working as a money-market broker on the 84th floor, DiFrancesco managed to descend from the impact zone, becoming one of only 18 people to survive from floors 77 through 85.
The Timeline of Events on September 11
At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower. Ron DiFrancesco, then a Canadian citizen working on a U.S. immigration visa, was at his desk on the 84th floor of the South Tower. Initially, building intercoms announced that the South Tower was secure and that there was no need to evacuate. However, following a strong recommendation from a friend in Toronto, DiFrancesco decided to leave the building.
At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower, impacting floors 77 through 85. The aircraft’s wing cut through the trading room where DiFrancesco’s colleagues worked. The force of the impact caused the building to sway significantly, which Forbes reports DiFrancesco felt as a movement of seven or eight feet.
Escape from the Impact Zone
While most people in the impact zone perished, DiFrancesco found the only accessible emergency stairwell, known as Stairway A. He joined a group of survivors attempting to descend. However, they encountered smoke and fire that blocked their path, leading to some to go up instead. In a moment of desperation, DiFrancesco briefly attempted to help a trapped colleague, but was forced back by thick smoke.
As he continued his descent, the conditions worsened. Fire doors were locked and the smoke became overwhelming. By the time he reached the 91st floor, he began to panic and briefly considered giving up. He attempted to protect himself with a piece of drywall, but the heat and smoke eventually forced him to the ground.
Who was the last person to escape the Twin Towers?
Ron DiFrancesco is widely considered the last person to emerge from the South Tower. His escape was a result of a combination of timing, the remaining accessibility of Stairway A, and a psychological phenomenon known as “Third Man Syndrome.” This experience is described in The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible, where DiFrancesco credits a calm, forceful voice that told him to “get up” and guided him through the fire and smoke toward a clear stairwell.
Physical and Psychological Aftermath
DiFrancesco escaped the lobby just moments before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m., approximately 56 minutes after the plane hit. He witnessed the collapse and was hit by debris, causing him to lose consciousness. He later woke up in St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan with severe injuries, including:
- Burns over 60% of his body
- A sizable laceration in his head
- A broken bone in his back
- Contact lenses melted to his eyes
According to Thunder Bay News, DiFrancesco spent weeks recovering from these injuries. He has since struggled with survivor’s guilt, a common experience among those who survived the attacks. As reported by the Toronto Star, he now shares his story to promote a message of hope and perseverance.
Survival Statistics of the South Tower
The South Tower’s collapse was approximately 10 seconds long, killing all those who remained inside. The survival rate for those at or above the impact zone (floors 77-85) was extremely low. Ron DiFrancesco’s survival is statistically significant due to the following facts:
| Survival Category | Number of Survivors |
|---|---|
| Survivors from at or above impact zone (77-85) | 18 people |
| Survivors from above the 81st floor | |
| 4 people |
What was the highest floor someone survived in the 9/11 South Tower?
While many survivors escaped from the higher floors, Ron DiFrancesco escaped from the 84th floor, placing him among a small group of only four people to successfully exit the building before its collapse. This emphasizes the extreme danger of the impact zone and the the accessibility of Stairway A as the critical factor in the difference between life and death.
Ron DiFrancesco Today
Regarding the status of Ron DiFrancesco today, he and his wife, Mary, remained together through his recovery. He has transitioned from a long period of silence regarding the events of September 11, 2001, to publicly sharing his account of the experience to provide inspiration to others. He continues to credit the same unseen presence and voice that he describes as a voice of guidance during his same escape.
