By Philip Messing
The New York Post
NEW YORK — In the midst of the death and chaos of Sept. 11, 2001, two FDNY brothers — one on his first day on the job — feared they might never see each other again.
“He was lost, and I was lost,” said Patrick Connolly, 39, recalling the horrifying moments following the collapse of the north tower, when he and his brother, Brian, became separated.
“He thought I was dead, and I thought he was dead,” Brian said.
Brian, 43, who had served as an NYPD cop for 11 years before his stint as a firefighter, knew his younger brother was facing the toughest test he would ever have to endure.
“Nine-eleven was his [Patrick’s] first day out, and he saw a lot of destruction and death that day,” said Brian, who rejoined the NYPD in 2002 and is now a lieutenant assigned to the 9th Precinct in the East Village.
“But he regrouped, went back and worked hard and studied hard.”
And yesterday, Brian Connolly stood proudly with him again as Patrick received his lieutenant’s bars at an FDNY ceremony on Randalls Island.
The newly promoted officer was joined at the celebration by parents Matty and Bridget, his wife, Kristen, and his 3-year-old daughter, Savana, as well as 25 members of Ladder Co. 16, the East 67th Street firehouse where he is assigned.
But for Patrick, it was Brian’s presence that made the day extra special.
“Having my brother there at the ceremony, eight years later — after the worst day of our lives and the lives of everyone in New York — having him there was nice,” Patrick said.
On Sept. 10, 2001, Patrick, just a probie at the time, had stopped by his firehouse to introduce himself.
He expected to start working in three days, but the following day, when the World Trade Center was attacked, Patrick rushed in and met up with his brother, then assigned to Ladder Co. 17, in The Bronx.
They both were briefly trapped in the rubble, and when they finally got out and saw each other, “it felt at first like we were the only ones alive,” Brian said.
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