Survivor from Iconic Dust Photo Recounts 9/11 Attacks

In Edward Fine’s closet, the black leather Cole Haan shoes, leather briefcase, and gray suit he wore on September 11, 2001, sit like reminders of one of the most tragic days in American history. “These are the shoes I wore that day,” Fine says, gesturing toward the items. “The suit is the same, just clean of course.”

Survivor’s Memory: The Man Behind the Iconic Dust Photo

Fine has held onto everything he wore that day when he became an unexpected face of 9/11. A photograph of him, walking away from the World Trade Center covered in dust and debris, a cloth held over his mouth, became one of the defining images of the day’s tragedy.

“I didn’t want anyone to take my picture,” Fine recalls. “I didn’t stop and pose for that picture, and I had no idea that the picture had been taken.” The image, snapped without his knowledge, was later featured on the cover of Fortune magazine, titled “Up From the Ashes.” With that, Fine’s face became closely tied to the events of September 11, a visual representation of survival amid destruction.

Sitting in the backyard of his home in Watchung, New Jersey, Fine recounts the day with vivid clarity. “Ten years is etched in my memory. It was absolutely awful, but this event will be etched in my memory for as long as I live, every little detail of it,” he says. The passage of time has not dulled his recollection of the day’s events, which remain as sharp as ever.

Fine wasn’t an employee at the World Trade Center; he was there for a business appointment in the north tower, the first to be hit and the last to collapse. The investment consultant found himself on the 87th floor, waiting for an elevator to take him down when the plane struck the building. From there, he began a long, tense descent, walking down 87 flights of stairs alongside hundreds of other people trying to escape.

A Surreal Escape

Even after making it out of the tower, Fine was still focused on his next appointment. As he walked quickly away from the towers, thinking about what came next, the south tower collapsed. He remembers the moment clearly. “I looked back, and I saw a massive cloud of debris rushing up the block,” Fine says. “An EMT worker yelled at me to get down.”

What followed was a surreal and terrifying experience as the debris from the collapse rushed over him. “Moments later you could feel the hot debris pouring over your body; it felt like warm ash,” he recalls. The heat and weight of the dust were overwhelming, coating everything in its path.

“When I finally stood up, I opened my eyes, and they stung, but I could also see nothing, just darkness,” Fine says. It was a moment of complete disorientation as the cloud of dust blanketed the area, cutting off all visibility.

The now-iconic photograph was taken shortly after this, as Fine rose from the ground, covered in several feet of debris. At that moment, he was limping away from the destruction, his knees sore from the long descent down the stairwell.

Fine’s survival, like that of many others, came down to timing and luck. He believes there was a reason he survived that day. “I believe I survived for a reason,” he says. His experience has shaped the way he views life now, giving him a new perspective on what truly matters.

Since walking away from the worst terrorist attack in American history, Fine has found a new passion for life. He spends his days working, but his focus has shifted toward the things that bring him the most joy—spending time with his family, particularly his granddaughter.

Looking back, Fine has learned to focus on the future. “No matter how dark the day, tomorrow’s coming, and we’re going to make tomorrow a better day than today,” he says. This philosophy helps him move forward, despite the painful memories of that day. His story stands as a reminder of survival, resilience, and the ability to carry on after unimaginable loss.

Watch the interview below: