Vijayashanker Paramsothy died in the South Tower of the World Trade Center after making a decision to stay to help others. He worked for
Aon Corporation. After the first plane had hit the north tower, Mr. Paramsothy and a number of his Aon colleagues made their way down to the 78th floor sky lobby of the south tower. This floor was an elevator and information hub. At 9:03am it was packed with people trying to decide what to do. At this moment, the second plane impacted the south tower at the 78th floor. Of the approximately 150 people who had been milling around the elevator banks, all but approximately 20 were killed immediately or mortally injured. Mr. Paramsothy was relatively unhurt. He began gathering the survivors among the Aon people, including colleague Judy Wein. According to Ms. Wein, a man with a red handkerchief began instructing those who could leave to do so immediately and those who wanted to help get other people out to come with him. Mr. Paramsothy went with the man. Vijay, as he was known to all, presumably died in the tower's collapse fifty minutes later.
New York Times article with Ms. Wein's account (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/26/nyregion/26STOWER.html?pagewanted=9) (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/26/nyregion/26STOWER.html?pagewanted=9)
September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack/Casualties
