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Sun journalist 'pretended to be related to Grenfell Tower victim' to get into hospital

The Sun newspaper (Rex)
The Sun newspaper (Rex)

A Sun journalist pretended to a hospital to be a relative of a victim of the Grenfell Tower fire in order to get an interview inside the building, it has been claimed.

King’s College Hospital is to lodge a formal complaint with press watchdog, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), over the allegation.

They have also written to News UK, the Sun’s publisher.

“Following an incident at King’s College hospital, we have formally written to the Sun and will be informing the Independent Press Standards Organisation,” a spokeswoman for King’s College Hospital NHS foundation trust told the Guardian.

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Investigators inspect Grenfell Tower (Rex)
Investigators inspect Grenfell Tower (Rex)

The hospital added: “We are unable to comment on the specifics until our complaint has been investigated.”

It is thought that the journalist was trying to get an interview with Mario Gomes, who lived on the 21st floor of the doomed west London tower block.

Mr Gomes has widely been hailed as a hero for racing back into the blazing building to rescue his 12-year-old daughter.

Mr Gomes reportedly turned down the interview when he was told the reporter had pretended to be a relative.

The Queen visits Grenfell Tower on Friday morning (Rex)
The Queen visits Grenfell Tower on Friday morning (Rex)

The IPSO code for journalists states that: “journalists must identify themselves and obtain permission from a responsible executive before entering non-public areas of hospitals or similar institutions to pursue inquiries”

King’s College took in more than 70 victims of the blaze.

The Sun has denied the claims.

A spokesman said that “no report has ‘impersonated’ any family members,” according to the Guardian.

“We completely refute any accusation that our employees acted inappropriately,” said the spokesman

Yahoo News has contact both The Sun and Kings College Hospital for comment.