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Grenfell Inquiry: Nine-year-old survivor is youngest to read a tribute and brings room to tears with faultless speech about her cousin

A nine-year-old girl who is the youngest Grenfell survivor to read a tribute at the inquiry brought the room to tears with a faultless speech about her cousin who died in the fire.

Brave Sara Chebiouni was praised for her courage after faultlessly reading out a moving tribute to her cousin Mehdi, eight, who was killed in the first along with the other members of the El-Wahabi family, who lived on the 21st floor.

Father Abdulaziz, 52, mother Faouzia, 42, and children Yasin, 20, Nur Huda, 16, and were also killed.

Wearing a top with the word "Grenfell" emblazoned across it, she said she had enjoyed playing Lego and Minecraft with her cousin, the baby of the family.

Brave Sara Chebiouni was praised for her courage after faultlessly reading out a moving tribute to her cousin Mehdi, eight, at the Grenfell Inquiry (Grenfell Inquiry)
Brave Sara Chebiouni was praised for her courage after faultlessly reading out a moving tribute to her cousin Mehdi, eight, at the Grenfell Inquiry (Grenfell Inquiry)

His favourite foods were ice cream, curry and couscous, she said.

Mehdi El-Wahabi, 8, lived on the 21st floor of Grenfell Tower (Met Police)
Mehdi El-Wahabi, 8, lived on the 21st floor of Grenfell Tower (Met Police)

"Had he lived until adulthood I think he would have liked to have been a comedian, although I do think he had some work to do on his jokes," she told the room, with faultless delivery.

She described how Mehdi was not spoilt despite being the “the baby of the family” but that he was “cared for a lot”.

Sara said that she would often visit her cousin on the 21st floor and described how they would play together on the landing with his neighbours - the Gomes family, who were the first to give a tribute to the inquiry on Monday to stillborn baby Logan.

“We used to have so much fun. The 21st floor was so much more fun and child friendly than the ninth floor,” Sara said to a murmur of laughs across the room.

She then read out the words of Mehdi's class teacher, Miss Trabelsi, who described him as a "much-loved and beautiful member of our class".

Nur Huda El-Wahabi, 16, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire (PA)
Nur Huda El-Wahabi, 16, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire (PA)

"Mehdi's smile lit up any room, his kindness and generosity to his peers and staff made him an extremely popular boy."

“His qualities were endless,” she said.

At the end of Sara's presentation, counsel to the inquiry Bernard Richmond QC told her: "I couldn't have read like that at nine years old, I think you did a beautiful, beautiful job."

Clockwise from top left: Father Abdulaziz, 52, mother Faouzia, 41, and children Yasin, 20, Nur Huda, 16, and Mehdi, eight, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire (PA)
Clockwise from top left: Father Abdulaziz, 52, mother Faouzia, 41, and children Yasin, 20, Nur Huda, 16, and Mehdi, eight, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire (PA)

A brave display was also put on by her older cousin, Mariam El-Wahabi, who had initially looked like she would be too emotional to speak.

She was commemorating teenager Huda, her older cousin, who had been doing her GCSEs.

Yasin El-Wahabi, 20, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire (PA)
Yasin El-Wahabi, 20, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire (PA)

"We all wanted to be like her. We soon came to the realisation it was impossible to be like her - she was too unique," Mariam told the hearing.

Displaying great composure, she continued: "I will continue to look for her rays of sunshine through the clouds gathering ahead."

Faouzia's mother, Menana Jabari, spoke of the terrible pain she felt, knowing her family would never again visit her in Morocco.

In a written statement, she remembered how her daughter looked like a "princess" when she married in 1994.

When she moved to Grenfell Tower, her mother had joked: "Faouzia, get a house that ain't so high, one day the wind will come and blow it down."

But Faouzia "loved" her flat, she said.

Faouzia El-Wahabi, 41, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire (PA)
Faouzia El-Wahabi, 41, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire (PA)

Mrs Jabari said her pain would become most pronounced during the summer, when families usually visit Morocco.

"I will be forever waiting for my daughter and beautiful grandchildren to walk through the door," she said.

It had been another day of high emotion at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, south Kensington, with several presentations interrupted by displays of grief.

The brother of Abdulaziz, Hamed El-Wahabi, broke down before and throughout his tribute.

He said: "He was kind, a loyal family member, he had an infectious and caring personality, he left a mark on many people's hearts and it's evident by the endless love and support given to us by his friends and colleagues.

"We, his family, intend to continue by his example."

Yasin, meanwhile, was described as a selfless and considerate young man, who was studying accountancy at the University of Greenwich but kept close ties to the community.

His mother Faouzia was said to be the "anchor" of the family who was loved by many.

The inquiry also heard of the close bond between victim Ligaya Moore, 78, and her friend Nenita Bunggay, during a heart-rending personal portrait.

The Filipino pensioner had loved dancing, socialising and her flat in Grenfell Tower, a tearful Ms Bunggay recalled.

She said: "She was so proud to live in Grenfell. She would always say every time we walked past: 'Nenita, that's my building, 21st floor. It's a big building and I love it so much, even though I'm alone there, I love seeing it every day.'

"Especially the fireworks, she loved that kind of beautiful thing from her building.

"She loved to see the beauty of London from her building. She always used to say: 'I am on top of the world, Nenita, look at my building."'

During a busy morning for the inquiry, tributes were paid to Vincent Chiejina, 60, who was hailed for his support of the vulnerable.

His younger sister Obi said in a video tribute: "He guided and gave directions to others. Let's celebrate and remember those who help others."

The public inquiry into the disaster is holding a fifth day of commemorations for 72 victims before it starts to hear evidence.

Commemorations are expected to continue until next Wednesday.