A New York firefighter who survived after being trapped beneath millions tons of metal when the World Trade Center North Tower collapsed on 9/11, is retiring 18 years after the terrorists attacks.
FDNY Battalion Chief Jim McGlynn is a 34-year veteran and was the last of the Miracle 16 to be pulled out alive from the collapsed Twin Towers in 2001.
As he prepares to wrap up his career saving lives, he still can't believe his life was spared when thousands died.
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FDNY Battalion Chief Jim McGlynn, a 34-year veteran, is retiring 18 years after 9/11 attacks
He was last of Miracle 16 pulled out alive from the World Trade Center North Tower in 2001
'Any time I'm home somewhere and I see a picture of that building coming down, just coming down straight I realize I am someone down here, and I just shake my head and say OK thank you God,' McGlynn said in an interview with CBS News.
'It sounded like a freight train coming down. The building kind of contorted around you. I tried to find a spot where you might be safe. Got into some kind of a fetal position, said a few prayers and just waited for it to stop.'
Miraculously, his position in Stairwell B was what saved him and allowed the firefighter to radio for help.
FDNY said members rescued the group one by one, by lowering a rope through an opening at the top of the stairwell
The then-lieutenant was promoted to Captain in 2004, and to Battalion Chief in 2008
'You knew obviously exactly what was going on. You heard the floors coming down one by one. You heard the "boom, boom, boom, boom, boom". So there was no question in my mind what was going on at that point,' he told WCBS 880.
'After the noise stopped and the vibrations you just kind of got up, brushed yourself off and tried to collect yourself and make sense of what happened. Try to get your bearings, figure out who was around you, where your men were.
'Started giving maydays over the hand talkie, basically just waited for things to clear up so that you could formulate some kind of
