Michael O'Connell
ON THE RECORD · 10 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“That's all you heard were those alarms when we first got there. Nothing but PASS Alarms,”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
O'Connell recalled hearing PASS Alarms going off when he arrived at ground zero.
“I just [thought], this is the first child I'm gonna have. Maybe the only. I just want to get to that day. Get me to the day so I can see this baby and see you and her together, and then I'm good,”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
O'Connell described wanting to live to see his first child born after being diagnosed with sarcoidosis.
“You'd put them on but, quite honestly, you can't work with a painter's mask on for 24 hours straight and be a part of Bucket Brigade and talk to your guys and drink water,”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
O'Connell explained why firefighters couldn't keep a painter's mask on for 24 hours straight while working at ground zero.
“That's your family. ... It's a house of 50 guys, and we do everything together,”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
O'Connell described his firehouse as a family and said leaving it was one of the worst things that happened to him.
“It was more my speed,”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Michael O'Connell told ABC News about why he preferred becoming a firefighter over being a police officer.
“It was like camaraderie, team, unity. It's where I wanted to be.”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Michael O'Connell described the camaraderie and unity of the fire department.
“You're always pulling it on and off. Nobody was thinking, 'What's coming of this? Are we gonna get sick because we're breathing this stuff in?' That wasn't in anybody's head.”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
O'Connell said nobody at the time was thinking about whether they would get sick from breathing in toxins.
“I didn't know what was going on ... and I had like bruises and blisters all over my body.”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
O'Connell described the bruises and blisters that appeared on his body.
“As a fireman, when you hear it, you're meant to act and try your best to get to that person. You couldn't. They were underneath that pile.”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
O'Connell explained that firefighters hearing a PASS Alarm are meant to try to rescue the firefighter, but those at ground zero were buried under the rubble.
“My body inflamed two times the size of what it was,”
Michael O'Connell · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
O'Connell described waking up in severe pain on New Year's Day 2007.