Poppies made of scallop shells honour 9/11 victims

A special tribute has been made to remember the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks - including a Cornishman whose actions are credited with helping save lives.

The Veterans Charity invited people to Hayle, Cornwall, to be part of a "poppy production line" using about 6,000 scallop shells to create 2,977 poppies - one for each of the victims of the attacks that happened 25 years ago on Friday.

Among the victims was Rick Rescorla, originally from Hayle, who was a security worker who managed to get people to safety after planes crashed into the World Trade Center.

Iain Henderson, trustee of The Veterans Charity, said the project was a "fitting tribute" to Rescorla and everyone else who died.

The poppies created in Hayle have been made from scallop shells donated by fishermen in Newlyn.

People have painted most of the shells red, but 70 will be blue to pay tribute to law enforcement workers who died in the attacks along with a purple poppy in memory of a Port Authority Police Department dog named Sirius, who also died.

Once completed, the scallop shell poppies will be placed along a footpath in Hayle for a month to remember those who died.

A separate wreath also made out of scallop shells has also been created and will be sent to New York to be laid during a 9/11 memorial event on Friday.

Henderson, who came up with the idea for the poppies, said: "We wanted something that actually could involve the community and really bring people together.

"We've got young and old here and it's just been a fitting tribute for the 25th anniversary of 9/11."

Jon Daniels, Rescorla's cousin, said he would have been proud of the display.

"He was military through and through from a very young age," he said.

"So he'd be supporting this no doubt."

Rescorla was head of security for Morgan Stanley, a banking firm based in the South Tower of the World Trade Center when the 9/11 attacks happened.

The 62-year-old, who had served in both the British and US armies, had previously raised concerns about the building being vulnerable to terrorism and organised regular evacuation drills.

After leading more than 2,500 out of the South Tower, Rescorla went back inside to try and save more people when the building collapsed.

His body has never been found.

Danny Greeno, chief executive of The Veterans Charity, said Rescorla saved many lives thanks to his "skill, knowledge and courage".

"He was even singing Cornish songs to keep morale up as he evacuated the South Tower," he added.

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.