9/11 survivor ‘Dust lady’ dies of stomach cancer she blamed on ash from atrocity

The subject of the one of the most iconic images from 9/11 has lost her life, after succumbing to stomach cancer.

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by Ellie Hooper |
Published on

Marcy Borders was snapped covered in yellowy/orange dust amid the chaos of September 11, 2001, her smart office west coated in silt as she stood in the hallway.

Borders only discovered she was suffering from cancer last year, telling NJ.com that she believed the dust from the atrocity was to blame for her illness.

Marcy was caught up in the 9/11 attacks
Marcy was caught up in the 9/11 attacks

‘I definitely believe it because I haven’t had any illnesses. I don’t have high blood pressure…high cholesterol, diabetes.’

The Bank of America worker was at her desk on the 81st floor when a plane struck her building of the World Trade Centre between levels 93 and 99.

As the building began ‘quaking and swaying’ Marcy described how she ‘lost all control…I fought my way out of that place.’

The image of her on that day was taken by AFP photographer Stan Honda, and has been listed as part of Time Magazine’s 25 most powerful images.

It was also the subject of the folk song ‘The Tale of Marcy Borders.’

RIP Marcy.

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