The Shocking Story Behind the 1976 World Press Photo of the Year
One person died, although her body cushioned her goddaughter's fall, saving her life
Stanley Forman, a photojournalist with the Boston Herald World, a prestigious newspaper in its day, captured an award-winning photo titled, “Fire Escape Collapse” that won the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography and the World Press Photo of the Year in 1976. It's easy to understand why the panel members selected this captivating photo.
Depicting a woman and child falling in the sky mid-air, she plunges to the ground head first while the toddler holds a look of terror on her face as she flails her arms around potted plants flying past her. In the background, the grates of the fire escape fall to the ground. The photo itself is shocking, although learning its backstory evokes even stronger emotions.
What is the World Press Photo of the Year?
Most people know about the Pulitzer Prize, although the World Press Photo of the Year is a bit lesser known. Considered one of the most prestigious awards in photojournalism, the World Press Photo of the Year is awarded to the image that “is not only the photojournalistic encapsulation of the year, but represents an issue, situation, or event of great journalistic importance, and does so in a way that demonstrates an outstanding level of visual perception and creativity.” A jury of 10 members selects the award-winning photograph.
A Boston Building Fire Turns Deadly
A cloudy Wednesday in Boston turned even gloomier when an apartment building on Marlborough Street caught fire. Chaos ensued as residents scrambled to get out of the building and as far away as possible. Some residents weren’t so lucky, including 19-year-old Diana Bryant and her goddaughter, 2-year-old Tiare Jones.
Bryant and Jones were trapped on the fifth floor as flames engulfed the building creating billowing clouds of smoke in the air. The pair exited the building onto the fire escape in an attempt to escape the flames.
Moments later, firefighters arrived, including Robert O’Neill. Behind the firetruck, Stanley Forman arrived with his photography equipment in hand.
Forman quickly took out his camera and began snapping photos of the scene unfolding before his eyes.
Fire Escape Collapses
As O’Neill climbed a ladder to rescue the woman and child, the fire escape where they stood collapsed. Bryant and Jones plummeted 50-feet to the ground. The fireman attempting to save the pair hung tightly onto the ladder as it plummeted to the ground.
Bryant suffered extensive injuries to her head and body. She was transported to a local hospital where she passed away from her injuries several hours later.
Miraculously, little Tiare survived the fall. She landed on her godmother’s body, cushioning her from any serious injuries. She's now a mother of three, although limited information about Tiare is available online.
Forman said of the photograph:
“It dawned on me what was happening and I didn't want to see them hit the ground. I can still remember turning around and shaking.”
Forman, thankfully, did not see the pair hit the ground “as they fell behind a fence where the bins were,” he said.
The award-winning photo was one in a series Forman captured as the fire and chaos ensued that tragic day.
Photo Leads to Changes and Improved Safety
Over 120 newspapers from across the world went on to publish Forman’s shocking photo. The photo led to improvements in fire escapes across the city of Boston and encouraged other cities to take similar measures.
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Comments (1)
Nowadays, photos that can seemingly affect change, can sometimes inhibit that person from ever posting again because of the powers that be. I hope, as a writer, and avid photographer, that I can positively affect change without disrupting some sort of super, powerful being along the way (smiling a little). You may also be interested in the following: https://vocal.media/motivation/choosing-the-right-sticks Thanks for sharing.