The 25th anniversary of the 9/11 atrocity has been particularly emotive for firefighters, whose New York counterparts risked their lives to rescue people from the World Trade Center in 2001.

And a Teignmouth on-call firefighter was among those who travelled to the US to honour the 343 US colleagues who lost their lives during the rescue operation.

The same number of firefighters from the UK and Northern Ireland took part in a memorial climb equivalent to the 110 storeys of the World Trade Centre, along with hundreds of US and international colleagues.

They did it in full kit, each carrying a photo of one of the FDNY firefighters who were killed.

Matt 'Boots' Hallett during the 9/11 memorial climb at Atlanta Braves baseball stadium
Matt 'Boots' Hallett during the 9/11 memorial climb at Atlanta Braves baseball stadium (Matt Hallett)

Matt ‘Boots’ Hallett said it had been an ‘incredible’ experience.

He said: “I knew it was going to be tough, but once I started, the physical challenge almost became secondary to the reason I was there.”

The gruelling climb took place at the Atlanta Braves baseball stadium, in intense heat and humidity. Matt said the temperature was already about 27 Celcius when they started at 9am – rising to 36C by the time they finished about two hours later.

He said: “During the second half in particular, the heat and fatigue really started to kick in. There were moments when it became very tough, and it was then that I would look at the photograph of Firefighter Peter J Langone that I was carrying with me.

“Peter was a firefighter with FDNY Engine 252 and one of the 343 FDNY firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11. His brother Tommy, an NYPD Emergency Service Unit officer, was also killed that day.

“Looking at his photograph during those more difficult moments put what I was doing into perspective. I found myself thinking about what he and his colleagues went through that morning and the conditions they faced as they climbed the stairs of the World Trade Center.

“That gave me the motivation to keep going.”

The firefighters undertaking their climb equivalent to the 110 floors of the World Trade Center
The firefighters undertaking their climb equivalent to the 110 floors of the World Trade Center (Matt Hallett)

He said talking to US firefighters as they climbed alongside him also made the experience ‘special’ - along with the support from people along the route who cheered and handed out water bottles.

“When I eventually finished, I felt a real mixture of emotions,” he said.

“There was relief and certainly a sense of achievement after all the training, fundraising and preparation that had gone into getting there and knowing how many people had supported me too, especially my family.

“There's also an incredible sense of friendship and respect between firefighters from different parts of the world.

“I remember thinking about Peter and feeling proud that I'd been able to carry his photograph all the way to the finish.

“It's something I'll never forget.”

A spokesperson for Teignmouth Fire Station said they were ‘incredibly proud’ of Matt, and wanted to thank all those who supported his climb, which was raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity, The Blue Light Card Foundation and The Terry Farrell Fallen Firefighters.

Anyone wanting two donate can visit his JustGiving page. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/matthew-hallett