UK Tuesday, 18 September, 2001, 09:45 GMT 10:45

Heroic Britons missing

A Briton missing after last Tuesday's terror attacks in the US sang Cornish songs to people fleeing the World Trade Center in New York as he helped them escape.

Rick Rescorla, 62, who was born in Hayle, Cornwall, was the vice-president for security at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, based on the 100th floor of the south tower.

Survivors of the attack have described how he sang as he organised the evacuation of the company's 3,800 staff, in an attempt to raise spirits and ease panic.

Mr Rescorla is already considered a war hero in the US after leading his troops into battle during the Vietnam War, singing Going Up Camborne Hill Coming Down. He won the Silver Star for bravery.

Bob Sloss, managing director of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, said he last saw Mr Rescorla on the 10th floor of the tower ushering people to safety.

"He was definitely there well after it was established that the building was in trouble," he said.

"He was seen by many people and was singing to them to ease the panic."

Mr Rescorla's wife, Susan, said he rang her as he tried to evacuate his staff and said: "If anything happens to me I want you to know you made my life."

She said he regarded himself as a Cornishman first and foremost and "knew every song in the world and loved to sing".

"He made me smile and laugh. He was just a wonderful, wonderful man," she added.

During the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, Mr Rescorla, who moved to the US when he was 18, was said to be the last person to leave his tower.

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