Manhattan Medics: The Gripping Story of the Men and Women of Emergency Medical Services Who Make the Streets of the City Their Career

by Francis J. Rella NREMT-P

This firsthand account of September 11, written by a paramedic on the scene, chronicles the days before and after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Frank Rella describes the paramedic crew stationed at St. Vincent's Hospital in lower Manhattan, the eerie foreshadowing of the coming disaster, and his encounter with a Middle Eastern man who offered a tarot card reading. Rella details how he and his partner arrived at Ground Zero just as the second tower collapsed and rescued a firefighter who was having a heart attack. The vivid descriptions of turf battles between paramedics and fire department personnel at Ground Zero and elsewhere will arouse controversy and interest.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Medical

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Michael]

A great read for anyone who worked NYC EMS and was a St Vincent’s Paramedic/EMT….brought me back to my days on 2 Vic and 7 Willy. I will be reading this again and buying a copy to keep in my book collection.

[Gregory Kuzma]

Frankie Rella is a hero for his actions on 9/11. His TV interview with Dan Rather gave millions of Americans an idea of what our police, firemen and medics were going through on that tragic morning in 2001. Those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, should be remembered for their bravery.

This book pays homage to those who served "in the trenches" on that morning. It is well-written and puts you right in the middle of the action in lower Manhattan, New York.

This is one of my favorite books on my book shelf. Partly because all of the proceeds from the book's sales go to the widows of 9/11.

[Elizabeth Nesbit-comer]

The first time I stopped reading a book because I didn't like the narrator. Maybe he's a great guy in person, but in the book he comes across as a jerk. In the first chapter he talks about one of the other parametics lack of sex life with his wife.... was this necissary to the story at all.
Then, on 9-11 he constantly ignores the police officers orders in an effort to get close to the action. I'm sure the police officers were just trying to keep some semblance of order and to keep the workers safe and actions like these must have made their job just that much harder. At one point he gets a bunch of doctors to get in the rig as an excuse for them to get closer.
He also mentions how he wants to work as an actor instead of a paramedic like at least 5 times.

[Bette Isacoff]

Double Kudos

As a former RN and EMT, and as a published author, I can say without reservation that this is a book every American should read. It provides a fresh perspective, through the eyes of someone who lived it, on the horrific events of 9/11. It is well written, with never a full moment. I have read many "ambulance books," and this is by far the best.

[Jonah]

This book is about one person's experience in the week before and the weeks after September 11, 2001, dealing with the attack on the twin towers.

[Susan Riggs]

Good book

With an inside view of 9-11 up close and very personal. For us adrenaline junkies its history and personal. Read.

[Julie Glass]

Good book, written by a great man!