A tragedy was recently averted at the North Tower September 11 pool. Emergency responders rushed to the site after receiving reports that a man jumped into one of the reflection pools.
The 33-year-old man made a dangerous 30ft jump into one of the pools that were constructed on the site where one of the twin towers previously stood. The incident happened at about 1:30 p.m.
Minutes later, the scene was sealed off and surrounded by a crowd of cops, other first responders, and curious onlookers. The man, who was found lying down in the pool, suffered only leg and back pain from the risky dive.
The man was pretty lucky to have escaped worse injury, given that the pool’s water was only 18 feet deep. The only deeper part of the pool was a smaller square pool at the center that held another 20 feet of water, which was his second destination.
Video footage showed the man lying in the first layer of the pool while he peered into the deeper second layer. Afterward, he slid headlong into the 20 ft pool to the shock of onlookers.
Law enforcement has commenced an investigation into the incident. What could have made the man embark on such a risky assignment, suicide, or adventure? Hopefully, the cops will tell us.
Meanwhile, the man, who is soon to be arraigned, was taken to the nearby Bellevue Hospital. His treatment and subsequent cooperation are key to unraveling the facts and moving on from the incident.
Afterward, he will probably have to prove innocence on charges of trespass and criminal mischief. His has been the only successful attempt to jump into the memorial pools. Another man who was on the verge of a similar attempt was talked out of it last month.
What makes these attempts even more worrisome is the history behind their location. The memorial pools, each almost as large as an acre, are seated on the grounds where one of the world’s most unforgettable events happened – the attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
A major stain on America’s history happened on September 11, 2001, when a group carried out the deadliest-ever terrorist attack on American soil. Terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into the two 110-floor buildings. Almost 3,000 people lost their lives in the attacks.
The memorial pools or reflection pools were built to honor the memory of the slain, whose names are engraved on the bronze parapets surrounding both pools. The names also include the 6 persons who lost their lives in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The memorial pools were designed by Michael Arad, an Israeli-American architect. His design stood out from the over 5,000 other design entries. Designs were submitted by other professionals from 63 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Australia.
The pools, which remain the largest manmade waterfalls in North America, are a treasure to the American people and more so for the friends and families of the 9/11 victims. Hence, it’s difficult to guess why anyone would choose this site for such a risky jump.
