Dominick Pezzulo

When they heard about the attack on the two buildings, Dominick Pezzulo and other Port Authority officers at a Midtown bus terminal commandeered a New York City bus to get downtown, said Gus Danese, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association.

Pezzulo, 36, arrived at the scene before either building collapsed and tried to rescue Sgt. John McLoughlin and Officer William Jimeo of the Port Authority police, who were trapped in the rubble from the initial explosions, Danese said.

While Pezzulo was trying to rescue the officers, the south tower collapsed, killing him, Danese said.

“The two people he attempted to take out of the rubble survived. They are currently in Bellvue Hospital,” Danese said.

“When they did remove Officer Pezzulo’s body, one of the rescue workers wrapped him in an American flag,” Danese said. The flag was given to Pezzulo’s wife, Jeanette.