A Raleigh man who survived the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is reflecting on the experience that changed the course of his life in an ABC11 interview with Steve Daniels.
John Cerqueira was 22 years old and living in New York City when the attacks occurred. A few months into his first job after graduating from N.C. State University, he was on the 81st floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building at 8:46 a.m.
As he made his way out of the tower, Cerqueira encountered a woman in a wheelchair on the 68th floor and helped carry her to safety. His actions thrust him into the spotlight. He was celebrated as a hero and appeared in People magazine and on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”…