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Sep 5, 2006 11:39 pm US/Eastern
Family Grieving Death Of 9/11 Rescuer
Lung Problems Blamed On Debris From Twin Towers
by Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Jim Zadroga died from complications from toxic materials in the air after 9/11.
CBS
As the five year anniversary of 9/11 approaches, a major investigation found 70-percent of the rescuers at the World Trade Center suffered lung problems and abnormalities.
The dust at ground zero was toxic to the lungs of rescue workers. It is the official confirmation of what the Zadroga family of Tuckerton has been claiming all along.
"I always told him he died a hero," said Joe Zadroga.
Linda and Joe Zadroga's son Jim was a New York City detective who spent 400 hours at ground zero. He died in January of 2006.
His mother was devastated by what the autopsy report said was in his lungs.
"He had glass, he had peoples bones, he had dust," said Linda Zadroga.
Dr. Robin Herbert conducted the new research on 9/11 illnesses.
"We know that the world trade center responders were exposed to a highly toxic mix of agents that included many cancer causing components," she said.
Jim's 4-year-old daughter Tyler Ann is too young to understand what killed her father. Her family clings to the memories, their grief tinged with anger.
The Zadroga's said the city abandoned their son and the other heroes of 9/11, claiming Jim didn't get the medical care he needed fast enough.
"The city of New York murdered my son. They murdered him by just letting him die," said Joe Zadroga. "If they were treating dogs the way they treated these people they would have gotten arrested for it."
The city responded to that charge by saying Zadroga was granted accidental disability in July of 2004.
Tyler Ann didn't just lose her father, her mom Rhonda died 2 years ago.
"She didn't know how to grieve, we had to teach her, tell her it's ok to cry," said Joe Zadroga.
Tyler Ann lives with her grandparents now too young to know just how much devastation was caused after the attack on America.
She will be taken care of financially as the state of New York passed the Zadroga law two weeks ago giving benefits to family members of 9/11 rescuers.
On Friday, her grandfather Joseph will testify before a congressional committee investigating the handling of 9/11 illnesses.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
