Parade to commemorate 9/11 Cornish hero

A parade and ceremony are taking place to honour a Cornish hero who died saving thousands of lives during the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks in New York, 25 years ago.

Rick Rescorla was head of security for Morgan Stanley and was working in the South Tower on 11 September 2001. He evacuated more than 2,500 people before returning inside. His body was never found.

Children from Hayle's Penpol Primary School, where Rescorla was a former pupil, are taking part in the parade along with members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and Parachute Regiment.

It starts from the school at 13:00 BST and culminates with the ceremony at the Rescorla Memorial on Penpol Terrace at 13:30.

The 9/11 attacks saw 19 Al Qaeda members hijack four commercial passenger planes in the US.

Two of them were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, resulting in them both collapsing.

Another plane struck the Pentagon, near Washington DC, while the fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania - it was believed to be destined for the US Capitol Building, also in Washington DC.

The attacks killed 2,977 people and injured tens of thousands more.

Nic Stanlake, assistant headteacher of Penpol Primary, said its Year 6 pupils had been learning about Rescorla and his involvement in the attacks.

"Whether your successes are here or further afield you can't deny his roots, he was a proud Cornishman and we're very proud of him as well," he said.

Penpol Primary's forest school and wildlife garden have been dedicated to Rescorla.

"I've led plenty of assemblies in my time when the children aren't particularly engaged," Stanlake said.

"But when we talk about people like Rick, it's very much living history.

"It's something they can really relate to - a man who's so inspirational, it's hard not to be inspired by his story."

Ten-year-old Niyah said: "He was a man who saved many lives... and during that it was a rush to get everyone out, but to calm people down he sang Cornish songs."

Another student, Seth, 10, said: "I think he must have been very brave to be able to go back in there and save more people knowing that his life was at risk."

Hayle Town Council said the event would be live-streamed across its social media for those unable to attend in person.

"All are welcome to attend the parade and ceremony," the authority said.

"We encourage attendees to walk or use public transport as far as possible as parking is extremely limited and road closures will be in place for the duration."

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