'I survived the epicentre of 9/11, but years later it's left me terminally ill'published at 10:49 BST 11 September
Amy Oakden and Seb Cheer
BBC Tees and BBC Yorkshire
Image source, PAUL BERRIFFPaul Berriff went to film the aftermath of 9/11 but ended up buried under rubble
Warning: This story contains graphic details of the aftermath from the 9/11 attacks.
Twenty-five years on from 9/11, Paul Berriff is still feeling its impact.
The photographer and documentary filmmaker has become one of thousands of survivors to be diagnosed with terminal illnesses connected with the long-term effects of that day.
Now aged 80 and living near Northallerton in North Yorkshire, Berriff recalls being left unconscious for approximately 35 minutes, during which time the second tower also collapsed.
After regaining consciousness, Berriff said his "mouth was full of all this cement gunge stuff".
"I could hardly breathe. I was hot, I was sweating, my trousers were burning. Total blackness, I've never seen blackness like it."
"All of us that escaped that day thought we'd done well, then about three or four years ago, we started developing these illnesses," he said.
"All of us had ingested the cloud which contained body parts, glass, aviation fuel, you name it. It had laid dormant for 20 years and we've all developed these fatal diseases."
He was diagnosed three years ago with pulmonary fibrosis.
"My consultant said I've only got five years to live," he said.






