FIREFIGHTERS from the North-East will retrace the final journey of a hero who lost his life in the Twin Towers attacks.

Thirteen runners from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service fly to New York tomorrow to take part in the annual Tunnel to Towers Run in memory of firefighter Stephen Siller.

On September 11, 2001, the 34-year-old was enjoying his day off when news came in that the first plane had hit the World Trade Centre.

He raced to his station and drove his fire truck towards the scene, but found the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel closed off

Determined to do his duty, he strapped 60lbs of equipment to his back and set off into the tunnel on foot, running three-and-a-half miles to reach the Twin Towers and save others.

The father-of-five was among the 343 New York firefighters to die when the Twin Towers collapsed.

On Sunday, County Durham firefighters will join colleagues around the world in retracing his final run from the tunnel to Ground Zero.

John Robson, from Durham, will take part in the run for the third time.

He said: “It is a wonderful event, it is a very emotional day but it is also a celebration of what has happened since 9/11.

“When runners emerge from the tunnel back into the sunshine, there are 343 firefighters standing in uniform, each holding a photograph of one of their colleagues who died. It really is a tearjerker”.

Mr Robson set up Fire and Ice Expeditions in 2004 and has since raised almost £120,000 for charity with mountaineering and running challenges around the world.

Over the last year, members have held an expedition to the remote Mukot Peak in the Himalayas and are planning to climb Jebel Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains.

Around £8,000 raised this year will be donated to six local charities during a presentation evening at Ramside Hall Hotel in Durham on October 13.