Life without a parent – a sorrowful story told

Thousand of lives were lost in the September 11 attacks on the US, leaving many children without a mother or father. The BBC’s Radio 5 Live spoke to some whose parents were killed or injured.

‘He was a hero and he helped save many lives that day’

Brian Leavey’s dad Joseph was a firefighter with the New York Fire Department who died saving people’s lives at the World Trade Center.

Brian was 16 at the time and would later hear audio recordings from the day of his father talking with his men and going up the South Tower.

“That’s how we know the story of his unit. They were at the 78th floor at the time of the collapse of the building. They were one of the only units to make it to the fire floor. It was definitely a relief knowing that they did amazing work that day and I’m just so proud of how brave he was.”

Brian remembers his dad as “a big kid” who was always there for his children. “He loved being a father and taking care of us,” he said. “I was very fortunate to have 16 years with him whereas my younger sister only had 10.”

His father’s death made him “grow up a little faster” than other kids his age as he wanted to be there for his family and be the man of the house, he recalls.

Now a father himself, Brian said one of his regrets is not listening more to his dad when he tried to teach him DIY as a teenager.

“I think about it every day, how I wish he was around to fix things round the house or help me with a renovation. It’s one of the things I miss every day.”

Brian now works with the charity Tuesday’s Children, where he mentors other fatherless children from 9/11 and other terror attacks.

“I’m trying to turn a negative into a positive,” he added.