Latest news with #firetragedy
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'I just remember stepping over so many bodies': Harrowing moment daughter and her desperate family battle to escape Grenfell blaze is relived in new Netflix documentary
A family who lived in Grenfell Tower have detailed the harrowing moment they battled to escape the deadly inferno in Netflix 's new documentary on the tragedy that shook London. Marcio Gomes, his wife Andreia and their two daughters, Luana and Megan had lived in flat 183 on the 21st floor of Grenfell in North Kensington for 10 years. Andreia was seven months pregnant with their son Logan when the fire broke out on June 14, 2017. The entire family managed to escape the burning 24-floor building, but later in hospital doctors were forced to let Andreia's unborn baby die in order to save her life. In the streaming giants documentary Grenfell: Uncovered, released today, Marcio, now 46, and his eldest daughter Luana detailed the family's desperate escape and the moment they were told Logan would never be born. Perhaps one of the most disturbing recollections of their struggle to get to safety came from Luana, who was just 12 at the time. Speaking about the frantic moments in the smoke-filled stairwell with tears streaming down her face, the clearly traumatised 20-year-old said: 'I just remember stepping on so many bodies.' As charting songs of the time played, glassy-eyed Luana was transported back to the days leading up to the fatal event which changed their lives forever. She remembered her excitement about going into year eight as summer time began. 'I would definitely say I was very bubbly, I was very happy. I always wanted to do good in my grades. I was a good, happy 12-year-old,' she said with a vacant look in her eyes. Luana and her father recalled going out for a family dinner that night before the chaos unfolded. After getting home at around 11.30pm - just 80 minutes before the fire broke out - Marcio played and few games on his X-Box and then headed off to bed as he had work the next day. But he and his family were woken up at 1.15am by a neighbour banging on the door to alert him of the flames which were ripping through the tower block - ultimately saving them from being burnt to death in their sleep. Luana, who sobbed throughout the entire documentary, said: 'Everything was in a rush. We covered ourselves with the blanket that my dad had put in the bathtub, and I grabbed my dog and we just dashed it for the stairwell.' Haunting recordings of Marcio on the phone to a 999 call handler are played, with the desperate father heard shouting: 'Right, lets go girls. Go, go, go. Go through, go down. Let's go now! Keep going.' Speaking to the camera, he described the 'horrific' conditions in the stairwell, which left him 'coughing and gagging a lot'. The family were woken up at 1.15am by a neighbour banging on the door to alert him of the flames which were ripping through the tower block 'I didn't have any idea where they [his family] were. My expectation was they're in front of me,' he said, as recordings of the call handlers telling him firefighters were on the way up to rescue them echoed in the background. However, Luana recalled hearing her father's voice behind her, encouraging her to 'keep going' as she felt the bodies of her neighbours beneath her feet. 'And then it got to a point where I couldn't hear my dad anymore behind me. He sounded like he was, like, far in front of me, like, down the stairwell,' she said. Marcio remembered the terrifying moment he heard Luana scream 'Dad!' and it dawned on him that his girls were in fact behind him further up the stairs. Weeping Luana said: 'I just remember saying "I can't do it anymore", like, I can't carry on. And I remember placing my dog down on the stairwell because I couldn't cope.' That was her last memory inside the burning building before 'everything went pitch black' and she collapsed. More heart-wrenching 999 recordings play of Marcio pleading to go and look for his family, to which the call handler replied: 'You need to go back upstairs and get your girls.' The panicked father can then be heard desperately shouting in between smog-induced coughs and tears: 'Hold the rails, keep coming Luana! Megan, Luana, come on. Come on come on...' It was then he realised his eldest child had passed out from the heavy fumes and smoke inhalation. When he looked between the rails of the stairwell, he could see a 'very faint light'. 'I kind of thought "God, that must be a firefighter". I quickly ran down, and I shouted, I said "My daughter's upstairs",' he said as 999 recordings run of him telling the handler: 'I need to go up and get her. I've got to get her out.' When he tried to go back up the stairs to save them, another firefighter grabbed him from behind and ordered him to keep going down so he could get out. His voice broke as he continued: 'I saw Luana being carried out, but I didn't know where my wife was, I didn't know where Megan was.' Safely outside the blazing building, Marcio found Helen Gebremeskel and her daughter Lulya, who lived on the same floor, and they handed him over to the police. Officers told the worried father they couldn't promise anything, but informed him they were aware his pregnant wife and youngest daughter were still in the building. But firefighters had actually already brought them both to safety, which Marcio somehow all of a sudden knew in his gut. The Grenfell Tower residential building is seen on fire and engulfed in plumed of black smoke on June 14, 2017 He explained how he sighed with relief before he even saw her, before turning around to see Andreia and 10-year-old Megan sitting by a tree. The heavily pregnant and distraught wife asked her husband where their other daughter was. 'Of course, I knew where Luana was,' he said, 'She was to our side. They were resuscitating her.' Thankfully, paramedics put the family in one ambulance all together to get Luana to hospital. 'Next thing I know, I woke up and I was in the ambulance and I was the only one on the bed,' said Luana of her first memory on the outside. Selflessly, all the 12-year-old could think about when she first woke up was her mother and unborn brother. 'I just kept thinking, "Why am I on this bed?", like, "I'm not the priority here. If anyone's the priority, it's my mum", because obviously she was pregnant at the time. And then I just fell back asleep again.' Yet, it wasn't until the family reached King's College Hospital that they realised their heartbreaking plight was far from over. Struggling to get his words out, Marcio recalled the minute doctors came and said they needed to speak to him. 'They said they were going to need to make a call between Andreia and the baby. 'They said "In these circumstances we take the mother's side", and I said "Yeah, I understand that's what you need to do".' He paused, bit his bottom lip and cast his eyes down: 'That's when they said Logan had passed away.' The grieving teary-eyed father added: '72 people died, 18 of them were children, including my son, who was the youngest victim. They were all robbed of whatever they could have become.'
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Grenfell Uncovered on Netflix: First-rate journalism highlights how working class victims were left waiting for answers
There are obvious parallels between the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London and the Stardust fire in Artane, Dublin , in that they were preventable calamities where the families of the dead were left waiting far too long for answers. There is also the fact that, in both cases, the victims were mainly working class. That element of the story is tackled head-on in Grenfell Uncovered, Olaide Sadiq's hard-hitting documentary about the 2017 London catastrophe, which claimed 72 lives. 'We were treated as if we didn't matter. We're working class, we're poor,' says one former resident of the west London tower block in comments that carry clear echoes of the official response to the Stardust blaze. Grenfell and its aftermath are told via eyewitness testimonies, including those of Luana Gomes, who was 12 at the time and had to be put into an induced coma after she and her family descended 21 flights of stairs in pitch-black smoke. 'We covered ourselves with the blankets my dad had put in the bathtub. I grabbed my dog. Dashed for the stairwell,' she says. The cause of the fire was the highly flammable cladding attached to the outside of the building in a penny-pinching makeover intended to address complaints that the tower had become an eyesore in affluent Kensington. One expert likens the covering to 'sticking a petrol tanker to the outside of the building'. Safer cladding would have cost extra – but not a lot, around £40 per renovated flat. [ Grenfell Tower, where 72 people died, 'to be demolished', families are told Opens in new window ] By the time of the fire, this cladding was already prohibited across much of Europe (although the situation in Ireland is not specified). But not in the UK, where Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron had led a campaign against state regulation of the private sector. 'The driving ideology was deregulation,' says one contributor. 'The state had no place telling private businesses what they should or shouldn't do.' READ MORE Cameron had been replaced by Theresa May by the time of Grenfell, and she was widely criticised for not visiting the tower block the morning after the fire. To her credit, she is the only prominent politician to appear in the Netflix film, and she accepts her share of culpability. 'One of the issues was the way in which authority had failed to listen to [the residents],' she says. 'I merely exacerbated that by not going to see them first off. It was important given the scale of the tragedy.' Were it possible, some politicians come off even worse than Cameron and May. There is Eric Pickles, now 'Lord Pickles' but, at the time, secretary of state at the Department for Communities and Local Government. At the official Grenfell inquiry, he urged officials not to waste his time – before confusing the death toll from Grenfell with that of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster in Sheffield. [ 'The fire broke our family': Grenfell was, above all else, a human tragedy Opens in new window ] 'Seventy-two residents died. 96 was the number of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster,' says housing journalist Peter Apps. 'That number should sit with everybody. If it's not important, you'll mix it up with another disaster where lots of working-class people died.' Grenfell Uncovered is important public service journalism, and it's a shame that the film couldn't resist a cheesy stunt at the end by appearing to imply that Luana's mother had died in the fire – only for it to be revealed at the end that she survives (though her unborn son did not). That one lapse aside, however, the film is first-rate long-form reporting. It makes you wonder, if Netflix were to apply the same journalistic rigour to Ireland, what might come wriggling out from under the rocks? Grenfell Uncovered runs on Netflix from Friday, June 20th
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Grenfell survivor breaks down in tears recounting agonising moment medics were forced to choose between saving the life of his wife or child - as Cat Deeley steps in to comfort him on This Morning
A Grenfell survivor broke down in tears on This Morning as he recounted the agonising moment medics were forced to choose between saving the life of his wife or unborn child. Marcio Gomes featured on Wednesday's instalment of the ITV show and sat down with journalist Peter Apps and presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard in an emotional interview. The grieving father lived on the 21st floor of Grenfell Tower with his wife, who was seven months pregnant, and two daughters. A fire broke out in the tower block on June 14, 2017 and spread throughout the building, leading to the loss of 72 lives. Following the eight year anniversary of the tragic night, Marcio recalled what happened to his family and how his unborn son, Logan, sadly passed away as a result of the fire. 'I was woken at 1.15am in the morning with the neighbour banging on the door which I'm forever grateful because if it wasn't for that, we would've been sleeping,' Marcio recalled. The grieving father lived on the 21st floor of Grenfell Tower with his wife, who was seven months pregnant, and two daughters Cat explained how 'the fire brigade were told the 'stay put' rule, which is essentially you stay there for 2 hours'. Marcio's family began preparing wet towels but eventually realised they needed to leave the flat and go against the fire brigade's advice. 'Probably about an hour into it I would say when I really understood how bad it was, we'd had fires in the tower before, not generally a problem,' he said. 'Of course that night it was very different,' he added. An hour into it when I tried to go into my neighbours house and I opened the door it was pitch black, the lights were on but it was pitch black. He described the 'really thick' smoke and added: 'It was awful, it was something I've never experienced before... as soon as you breathed that in you was just gagging, it was a horrific smell, it was something I can never really describe that well. 'That's when I knew it was really bad.' After multiple calls to the fire brigade, the family and neighbour decided they would have to try and make their own way down. They attempted to leave the flat twice but Marcio described the moment that made them realise they had to go. 'As I looked into the bedroom, fire came through the window and set basically the room alight. At that point I said we've got to go, it's now or never, we couldn't stay in the flat,' he said. Cat looked emotional and she said: 'There was so much confusion at the time, you couldn't see anything, you were supposed to be behind the girls and you were taking them down and then you kind of lost them within the smoke. 'When you finally get to the bottom of the tower, you see each other again, you get taken into an ambulance but your wife, who is seven months pregnant and asthmatic, they have to make a terrible decision.' Marcio broke down into tears as he replied: 'At the hospital, they came to me and said they and to make that decision because my wife was obviously alive, they had to go with her, which I said, yes, that's the choice.' Cat leant forward to comfort Marcio and kindly pat his knee as she looked tearful too. The blaze, which was the worst in Britain for more than a generation, was accelerated by deadly combustible cladding and many of those who died had been told to stay in their flats. It resulted in the deaths of 72 men, women and children, including multiple generations of the same families, living in the 120-apartment tower, built in Kensington - one of London's richest areas. The fire triggered mass protests about building standards, following months of concerns from Grenfell Tower residents about safety following its refurbishment. The final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, published in September, concluded the disaster was the result of 'decades of failure' by government and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings. Ben read out a statement from The London Fire Brigade commission which said: 'On the night of the fire, the brigade faced the most formidable challenge that any fire service in the UK has confronted in living memory. 'In 2019 the brigade accepted every recommendation from the Grenfell Tower enquiry phase one report and have since implemented significant changes to how we operate.' Ben then went on to read a statement from Arconic which said: 'Our thoughts remain with all those affected and their families and friends. 'Arconic architectural products along with others has made financial contributions to settlements for those impacted, we support all efforts to strengthen the regulatory oversight in the construction industry.' Earlier this year, Angela Rayner revealed the apartment tower would be dismantled after concerns over damage, but this has been hit with backlash. Ben also read a statement from the Government's Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government and said: 'We will deliver the change needed so this can never happen again by taking decisive actions to speed up the mediation through the remediation acceleration plan and deliver the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower enquiry.' This Morning airs weekdays on ITV1 from 10am and is available to stream on ITVX.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Call for justice eight years on from Grenfell fire
Survivors and bereaved relatives of the Grenfell Tower blaze have demanded justice following the eighth anniversary of the 2017 tragedy. The blaze left 72 people dead, including 18 children, and is still being investigated by the Metropolitan Police. In a few months' time, work will begin to take down the 23-storey block. Hundreds walked in silence through west London on Saturday evening before hearing the names of the dead and speeches by campaigners, as the tower loomed over them. Memorial service held for Grenfell fire victims Grenfell memories: 'I woke up to my mum screaming' Final Grenfell anniversary before tower comes down London monuments were lit up including the BT Tower and London Eye and the Crystal Palace transmitting station. In Greater Manchester Salford Civic Centre was lit green. There are concerns no-one has yet been prosecuted. Grenfell United vice chairman, Karim Mussilhy, lost his uncle in the inferno. He told the crowd: "Eight years have passed, eight years since the fire - lit by negligence, greed and institutional failure - tore through our homes, our families and our hearts. "And still no justice has come. The truth is, there's almost nothing new to say because nothing has changed. "As we stand here eight years on, the only decision this government has made is to tear down the tower - our home." He branded the disaster a "forgotten scandal". "The tower has stood not just as a reminder of what happened, but of what must change - a symbol and a truth in the face of denial, of dignity in the face of power, of our resistance, of our 72 loved ones who can't fight for their own justice. "And now they want it gone, out of sight out of mind, a clear skyline and a forgotten scandal." There were cries of "shame" and "justice" from the crowd. The final Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, published in September, concluded victims, bereaved and survivors were "badly failed" through incompetence, dishonesty and greed. On Sunday Kensington and Bayswater MP, Joe Powell, told the BBC's Inspirit with Jumoké Fashola: "The one thing I think everybody would agree on is that there should be criminal accountability. "And of course we can't pre-judge how far up the food chain it will go, in terms of companies that were found culpable in the inquiry report, but that is the expectation." Leader of Kensington and Chelsea council Labour group, Kasim Ali, said he lived 500 metres (about 1,600ft) from the tower and saw "horrifying" things. He said: "My fear is that people's lives have been taken for granted and no-one cared about, let's say, communities who lived in a council-owned property, who lived in social housing. "There is stigma around it and I think they have been ignored." He said he wanted the legacy of Grenfell to be housing fit for human habitation, adding: "What we are seeking... is justice. Who is responsible for what happened to 72 members of our community that we have lost?" News of the government's demolition decision this year was met with criticism from some bereaved and survivors of the 2017 fire who expressed upset and shock, saying they felt they had not had their views considered before the decision was taken. Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, later said she knew meeting those most closely affected was going to be "really difficult" and that there was "not a consensus" among everyone over what should happen to the tower. On Saturday, placards read, "This much evidence still no charges" and "Tories have blood on their hands. Justice for Grenfell". Large green papier-mache hearts were held aloft, had words including "hope", "integrity", "enough is enough" and "justice" written on them. Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial of the tower, with recommendations including a "sacred space", designed to be a "peaceful place for remembering and reflecting". It is expected a planning application for it could be submitted in late 2026. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to 'Keep Grenfell in your hearts during carnival' Grenfell testimony week: From unheard to heard Grenfell community unified in steps toward justice
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Community calls for justice eight years on from Grenfell fire
Survivors and bereaved relatives of the Grenfell Tower blaze have demanded justice following the eighth anniversary of the 2017 tragedy. The blaze left 72 people dead, including 18 children, and is still being investigated by the Metropolitan a few months' time, work will begin to take down the 23-storey walked in silence through west London on Saturday evening before hearing the names of the dead and speeches by campaigners, as the tower loomed over them. London monuments were lit up including the BT Tower and London Eye and the Crystal Palace transmitting station. In Greater Manchester Salford Civic Centre was lit are concerns no-one has yet been prosecuted. Grenfell United vice chairman, Karim Mussilhy, lost his uncle in the inferno. He told the crowd: "Eight years have passed, eight years since the fire - lit by negligence, greed and institutional failure - tore through our homes, our families and our hearts."And still no justice has come. The truth is, there's almost nothing new to say because nothing has changed."As we stand here eight years on, the only decision this government has made is to tear down the tower - our home."He branded the disaster a "forgotten scandal". "The tower has stood not just as a reminder of what happened, but of what must change - a symbol and a truth in the face of denial, of dignity in the face of power, of our resistance, of our 72 loved ones who can't fight for their own justice."And now they want it gone, out of sight out of mind, a clear skyline and a forgotten scandal."There were cries of "shame" and "justice" from the final Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, published in September, concluded victims, bereaved and survivors were "badly failed" through incompetence, dishonesty and Sunday Kensington and Bayswater MP, Joe Powell, told the BBC's Inspirit with Jumoké Fashola: "The one thing I think everybody would agree on is that there should be criminal accountability. "And of course we can't pre-judge how far up the food chain it will go, in terms of companies that were found culpable in the inquiry report, but that is the expectation."Leader of Kensington and Chelsea council Labour group, Kasim Ali, said he lived 500 metres (about 1,600ft) from the tower and saw "horrifying" things. He said: "My fear is that people's lives have been taken for granted and no-one cared about, let's say, communities who lived in a council-owned property, who lived in social housing. "There is stigma around it and I think they have been ignored."He said he wanted the legacy of Grenfell to be housing fit for human habitation, adding: "What we are seeking... is justice. Who is responsible for what happened to 72 members of our community that we have lost?" News of the government's demolition decision this year was met with criticism from some bereaved and survivors of the 2017 fire who expressed upset and shock, saying they felt they had not had their views considered before the decision was Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, later said she knew meeting those most closely affected was going to be "really difficult" and that there was "not a consensus" among everyone over what should happen to the Saturday, placards read, "This much evidence still no charges" and "Tories have blood on their hands. Justice for Grenfell".Large green papier-mache hearts were held aloft, had words including "hope", "integrity", "enough is enough" and "justice" written on Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial of the tower, with recommendations including a "sacred space", designed to be a "peaceful place for remembering and reflecting".It is expected a planning application for it could be submitted in late 2026.
