Richard Varela is the son of Algarve emigrants who worked at a technology company near the World Trade Center when the twin towers were attacked on September 11, 2001. That morning, he managed to escape from the site known as Ground Zero when the airplanes struck the buildings.
In the days following the attack, Richard made a decision that would change his life: he returned to the site by boat to help save lives among the rubble and victims of the tragedy that struck New York.
The experience he lived through during those momentous days had a profound impact on Richard Varela, leading him to completely reconsider his career path and his calling.
What he witnessed and lived through after September 11 prompted him to make the decision to change his life and become a firefighter, a profession of service and dedication to others that defined the rest of his career.
