Shocking the jumpers of 911

In two days, Americans commemorate the victims of 9/11. But there are some victims who Americans rather not talk about: The people who jumped from the burning twin towers. Many religious Americans consider a self-chosen death a taboo. But after 13 years, their relatives would also like to tell their story.

The images can be considered shocking, but the story is about solace. After 30 years as a press photographer, Richard Drew had seen a lot. And then came September 11. He was very fast at the World Trade Center.

More than 200 New Yorkers, cut off from emergency exits, chose a jump over flames. Drew took an iconic picture that became known as 'the falling man' The jumpers were also captured by TV cameras Richard Pecorella can't keep such distance. He now suffers from a lung disease. Thirteen years ago he was a banker who had just engaged.

His girlfriend Karen was at work when the unthinkable happened He never saw Karen again. She was killed along with 2900 others. Later, Pecorella saw this picture in the newspaper taken by photographer Drew, who helped him detect Karen in the photo archives. The pictures were shocking, but helped him during the processing.

Karen Juday's lover finds the pictures important but most Americans never see them. America has deleted the jumpers from its collective memory. Pictures and photos are no longer shown. According to the coroner nobody even officially jumped the people fell, or were blown out of the building.

Choosing to die is still a taboo in religious America. And the photographer says: people can't handle these images. The terror of that day, captured forever. Erik Mouthaan, RTL Nieuws, New York.