Advertisement

Grenfell Tower mother 'wanted to jump from top floor rather than be burnt alive'

Fire chief on Grenfell: 'I think no-one should have lived in the building': Rick Findler/PA
Fire chief on Grenfell: 'I think no-one should have lived in the building': Rick Findler/PA

A survivor of the Grenfell Tower fire who escaped the tragedy with his mother said she had been ready to jump from the top floor of the block rather than suffer the pain of being burnt alive.

Farhad Neda, who lived on the 23rd floor with his mother Flora and father Mohamed, arrived home on the night of the tragedy two minutes before the fire broke out.

His father, also known as Saber, died that night, after jumping from the building as flames consumed the 24-storey tower block.

In a statement to an inquiry into the fire, Mr Neda recounted the fire spreading, his and his mother’s escape, before recalling the last time he saw his father.

Mr Neda gave a withering assessment of the fire brigade's actions when he appeared at the Grenfell Tower inquiry on Thursday, saying residents had been "fatally let down".

Grenfell Tower, as seen in front of the London Skyline after the 24-storey high rise was destroyed by fire, killing 72 people in June 2017. (Getty/Dan Kitwood)
Grenfell Tower, as seen in front of the London Skyline after the 24-storey high rise was destroyed by fire, killing 72 people in June 2017. (Getty/Dan Kitwood)

Mr Neda said: "I saw my mum standing on the window sill saying she was ready to jump rather than go through the pain of being burnt alive."

At around 2.30am he carried his mum, who had mobility issues, down the stairs of the tower block so they could escape and tripped over people who had collapsed along the route.

"The sounds from the people who were dying will never leave me. I could not do anything to help them as I had to carry mum and try and stay alive," his account stated.

He was forced to pause to regain his breath in a pocket of cleaner air halfway down the tower and the pair encountered two firefighters who helped them reach the lobby.

Mr Neda and his family had planned to leave earlier, but were urged by other residents to stay.

They were joined by four others in their flat, mother and daughter Mariem and Eslah Elgwahry and sisters Fatemah and Sakina Afrasiabi, none of whom survived.

Describing the last time he saw his father, Mr Neda said: "I remember seeing him helping the four women to put wet towels around their faces so that they could have a chance to get through the smoke with us.

"He died trying to save their lives, he gave them hope and encouragement."

Mr Neda recalled when he first became aware of an issue, which was when a smoke extractor began making a loud noise in the hallway, and he smelt “electrical burning”.

He said he called the Tenant Management Organisation and was told the fire brigade was on the way but not why it was.

“She did not say 'get out of your flat' or direct me to leave. We could have all got out at that stage," he told the inquiry.

The survivor said he felt those inside Grenfell has been
The survivor said he felt those inside Grenfell has been

The survivor, who along with his mother was one of only two to escape the 23rd floor alive, told a hearing at Holborn Bars that he felt the residents has been “fatally let down” in the incident.

He said: "Having been in contact with the firefighters outside while I was inside the tower, I was on several occasions told that they were on their way to get us and I feel that this was false hope.

"I feel it is the false hope which prevented quite a number of people from escaping the tower that night.”

Residents were told for nearly two hours on the night of the blaze to remain within their homes, with Mr Neda and his family among those who believed they were better off awaiting rescue,

His mother echoed his thoughts and her statement said: "I certainly do not blame the individual firefighters, who risked their lives that night, as they were following orders, but their managers did not have a plan for the Grenfell Tower disaster and they should have had a plan in advance.

"They had a few hours to make arrangements but they failed to do anything that would save people at the top and they did not seem to have the equipment to reach us or save us.

"I feel that if we were told the truth, if, even after the point when the firefighters knew that they wouldn't be able to reach those that were on the upper floors, if they would have just told us that 'there is nothing we can do, do whatever you can', at least people would have had time to make a decision for themselves to get out or to stay in the building."

The inquiry into the incident, which occurred on June 14, 2017, and claimed 72 lives, continues.