Reading of statements from Gannett Shower (Paulus Tecla's partner, flat 153), Yahaia lash it and you (lodger from flat 155), and statements relating to flat 152. Gannett describes firefighter telling them to stay put at 2am, 'we felt at peace because he told us it was safe', then being told at 2:51am they 'had to get out and take our chances'.
00:07:51 well ladies and gentlemen I'm sorry I had to ask many of you to leave the room well I dealt with the other matter I think all I can tell you by way of explanation is that I had to consider a
00:08:05 explanation is that I had to consider a matter on the basis that certain aspects of the Proceedings of the inquiry might have a prejudicial effect on proceedings elsewhere and I've made an order restricting reporting of matters we've
00:08:19 restricting reporting of matters we've just been discussing in your absence until further notice right now we'll get on with the business of the inquiry yes mr. mr. chairman what I would
00:08:31 yes mr. mr. chairman what I would propose to do now is to read into the record two statements that link to evidence that you heard yesterday from mr. Paulus Tecla yes thank you
00:08:44 mr. Paulus Tecla yes thank you the first statement that we put into the record mr. chairman is that of Gannett shower the partner of of mr. tech lay in the reference for that is at iws four
00:08:59 the reference for that is at iws four zeros one zero five zero
00:09:07 yes thank you it is the statement of Gannett Deborah Miriam shower and if we go please to page 16
00:09:26 stemming today to the 4th of September 2018 and it is signed with a statement of truth they are mr. chairman five exhibits that accompany the
00:09:40 five exhibits that accompany the statement which have been identified as GS 1 2 GS 5 and they are pages 17 to 21 in the same document if I may I propose
00:09:51 in the same document if I may I propose just to read out some extracts from the statement but as we have made clear I hope with all other statements that we put into the record so far the statement goes into the record in its entirety is
00:10:02 goes into the record in its entirety is considered in its entirety as you will have heard from mr. Tecla himself Gannett is his partner and the mother of his two sons and she was present in flat
00:10:15 his two sons and she was present in flat one five three on the 14th of June 2017 and in her statement she explains that she moved into flat one five three in June of 2016 where she was living with
00:10:28 June of 2016 where she was living with her two boys if I take you mr. chairman to page three just want to read
00:10:39 to page three just want to read paragraph seven I moved in after the refurbishment of being carried out in the flat there were problems of the windows they were not airtight and had a draft coming through them the windows in
00:10:51 draft coming through them the windows in the lounge and the bedrooms were especially bad in cold weather and we put towers by them to try and restrict the drafts I reported this a number of times I went personally to the TMO office and also I reported it in writing
00:11:04 office and also I reported it in writing I was never given an answer to of the lounge windows were not working properly and did not open when I reported this someone was sent to fix it but they couldn't I was told that someone else
00:11:15 couldn't I was told that someone else would come to fix it and although I repeatedly asked I was never given an answer and no one came if I move forward in the statement please to paragraph 11
00:11:27 in the statement please to paragraph 11 on page 4
00:11:33 a shower there says on the Saturday before the fire I was at home in the flat width and there's a name redacted rest of the name of their youngest son and Isaac I was expecting a friend to
00:11:44 and Isaac I was expecting a friend to come by and there was a knock on the door I was a grand to open the door and it was a fireman who wanted to test the smoke alarms in the lobby he walks into the flat run right by the front door there is a fire alarm he pressed the
00:11:56 there is a fire alarm he pressed the button he said it's working and he stepped back out the door again it works but it was no louder than a mobile phone there was also smoke alarm in the kitchen but he did not test that since
00:12:08 kitchen but he did not test that since the time I moved into the tower I was never given any information about fire safety mr. chairman if I may now just turn to miss showers account of the fire
00:12:21 turn to miss showers account of the fire itself and the night of the fire and as I explained and as you will remember from mr. Tech lays evidence the family came back home that night and were together and put the children to bed
00:12:34 together and put the children to bed that evening and if we go please to page 7 in paragraph 22
00:12:45 in the statement mashaallah explains i stayed up
00:12:49 stayed up did some housework prepared some homework for the children and got their clothes ready for the following day and i went to bed about 12:00 midnight i went to sleep what was later woken by power loss who asked me if I heard
00:13:01 power loss who asked me if I heard noises and shouting when we heard the noises we looked out of the door we went together and looked outside we saw our neighbor from flat one five two she was there with her children I could see her
00:13:13 there with her children I could see her clearly though we could see smoke I could smell smoke but we could see each other clearly I asked her what was going on and she told me there was a fire in the building when I finished talking to
00:13:24 the building when I finished talking to her I went back inside to the living room I know that power loss made the first call a 999 call from my phone and if I move forward just a paragraph 25
00:13:39 if I move forward just a paragraph 25 miss shower continues between 1:30 to 2:00 and to 54 a.m. we were calling our friends from the tower or they were calling us on my phone log I can see a
00:13:50 calling us on my phone log I can see a call at 132 to Abraham Isaac's friend's dad from the 7th floor power loss made this call from my phone at 139 I tried to phone nura on the 22nd floor but her phone was busy because of
00:14:03 floor but her phone was busy because of this I rang her on her son Yaya's phone the first time I called no one picked up but on a second call at 143 I spoke to hush him and told him it was Genet he
00:14:14 hush him and told him it was Genet he asked me how I was and he said that they were in their house as well he said that he'd found the emergency services and they told him to wait and not to leave the flat he said that he was sitting together with his children
00:14:25 together with his children and he advised me to do the same with my children and the emergency services would come and take us out and rescue us I tried to call neuro again at 149 but got no answer we then opened the door
00:14:38 got no answer we then opened the door again to our flat to see what it was like there was more smoke than on the previous occasion I saw the Mannie hallo any who lived in brick Bertie's flat 155 he was in the lobby
00:14:50 Bertie's flat 155 he was in the lobby area and asked if he could come into our flat I asked him where's Burke team Baruch and he said they had left I said yes and he came in we went into the living room he said there was a huge
00:15:01 the living room he said there was a huge fire and we were talking about what we should do at this stage it was smoky outside the flat there was no smoke in the flat there was a knock on the door around 2:00 a.m. he had a shirt and knew
00:15:14 around 2:00 a.m. he had a shirt and knew who'd come into our house ran to the door with us following him when the door was opened there was a firefighter in uniform power loss told the firefighter that there were three adults and two children in the flat and asked what we
00:15:26 children in the flat and asked what we should do I believe he'd come to rescue us he said to stay in the flat and put a blanket around the door and cover every hole to stop the smoke coming in and he said you're safe
00:15:37 said you're safe of course I believed him we thought the fire must be somewhere in the building but it was not coming up we could not see flames on our side of the building I could see flames fire looked out
00:15:48 I could see flames fire looked out sideways out of the window on the other side so I believed the firemen at this point the statement continues I don't remember a female firefighter being at the door only a male we were
00:16:00 being at the door only a male we were all standing at the door waiting to be rescued I've confirmed that the conversation with the firefighter took longer than 20 seconds as he was giving us instructions to block the door with towels to stop the smoke coming in if I
00:16:13 towels to stop the smoke coming in if I could move forward in a statement to paragraph 32 on page 10 please it continues we closed the door and we covered the post box with a box post box
00:16:26 covered the post box with a box post box with a plastic bag which we stuck down with plasters and we then covered the door with a blanket we then sat down to wait because we trusted the advice the firefighter had given us we felt a bit more at peace than a bit karma because
00:16:38 more at peace than a bit karma because he told us it was safe we kept bringing friends or they were calling us and they were telling us to leave we thought that we were going to be rescued as a firefighter whose toe had told us we were safe so he stayed
00:16:50 had told us we were safe so he stayed where we were but as time went on we started become more and more scared Isaac was crying my second son was crying they were scared
00:17:02 after some time there was a knock on the door again we thought it was the firefighter coming back but when I opened the door it was my neighbor from flat 152 with her three children she asked if she were to come in she said
00:17:15 asked if she were to come in she said that the fire was in her kitchen I told her to come in and she came in with her children we were all making calls to friends outside the tower power loss was calling 999 and calling friends I was
00:17:26 calling 999 and calling friends I was speaking to my friend IDM and told her to call the emergency services and tell them we were in flat 153 and we were there with children I told her to keep calling them if I move forward paragraph
00:17:40 calling them if I move forward paragraph 35 it continues we had our mobile phone lights on and we were shining it through the window and shouting help help through the window the fire was increasing I opened the kitchen window
00:17:52 increasing I opened the kitchen window and smoke started coming in I checked the gas in the water which we normally shut off at night the fire was increasing and powerless said we should leave said that we should leave that we
00:18:03 leave said that we should leave that we he would take Isaac and I would take our younger son and we should jump out of the window so at least our bodies would be found and our bodies would not be burnt he was by the open window in the
00:18:14 burnt he was by the open window in the living room power loss made a further call to the emergency services and we were told to wait we were still hoping to be rescued that we were becoming desperate power
00:18:25 that we were becoming desperate power loss spoke to Abraham again after Powell's finished talking to Abraham her loss told me that Abraham had said the fire is very bad and you have to come down you have to get out a 2:51 had yum
00:18:39 down you have to get out a 2:51 had yum called me again had told me that she'd phoned the emergency service and the operation was crying and said they could not control the fire they had told a DM to tell us to get out and take our chances power loss had another call with
00:18:51 chances power loss had another call with the emergency services around the same time and he told us they had said that we had to leave now I didn't hear the phone conversation but it was what power loss told me he said that we had to get towels wet it put it in our mouth and
00:19:04 towels wet it put it in our mouth and get out I arranged this for everyone in the house I went to the bedroom and got towels
00:19:10 towels and bedsheets from under the bed I wet them in the bath the water was not coming out of the taps very fast I sorted out towels for everyone in the house and as I was preparing mine the
00:19:22 house and as I was preparing mine the man who'd come into the house hello shet and you was standing at the door I told him not to open the door until we were all together by it and I was ready otherwise the smoke would overcome us I was not ready I didn't even have
00:19:35 was not ready I didn't even have anything on my feet but he opened the door anyway and he was repeatedly saying who he should look after who should he hold referring to the cauldron the
00:19:46 hold referring to the cauldron the conversation was in a loud voice my youngest son was crying and screaming on the floor I was shouting about the door being open and the smoke he had oh sure
00:19:58 being open and the smoke he had oh sure Daniel was shouting loudly which one do you want me to hold so there was a lot of commotion with the door open and a fire was done firefighter was standing outside on the lobby a few feet away from the door
00:20:11 power loss tried to give our youngest son to yell aha Enya but our younger son refused to go out with him and was rolling around on the floor and as I was looking after our younger son
00:20:22 as I was looking after our younger son the man still kept repeating saying who shall I hold for you who shall I hold for you
00:20:27 for you so we gave him Isaac and Palos managed to pick up our youngest son the firefighter had a light but it was not very bright either kanya Hallucigenia went out first and we all followed I was
00:20:40 went out first and we all followed I was the last one to go out I had no shoes on I had no wet towel the firefighter never spoke to us he did not tell you how to hold on or what to do what to expect he
00:20:53 hold on or what to do what to expect he did not offer to take any of the children the smoke was overwhelming we could not see each other no one could see each other the daughter the stairs was already open when I got there I
00:21:04 was already open when I got there I don't remember opening it I only know that I reached the stairs not anything else smoke was overwhelming I was about to fall down on a few occasions I was trying to hold onto the rail
00:21:16 trying to hold onto the rail I tried to hold I tried to hold on to the firefighter he was ahead of me but I could not reach him he was not carrying any of the children he was just going down on his own struggling for breath
00:21:26 breath it was disorientating and confusing it was very difficult and I did not wish to go into too much detail here as it's very distressing when I got down to the
00:21:37 very distressing when I got down to the lower floors I could see there was a light I saw power loss was slumped on the floor holding onto a younger son he couldn't get up I took our youngest son from him and we met a firefighter and he
00:21:49 from him and we met a firefighter and he took our younger son from me in the lobby mr. Chairman I proposed to end there but as I said the entirety of the
00:22:01 there but as I said the entirety of the statement goes into the record can I read now into the record a statement from Yahoo lush it and you
00:22:12 statement from Yahoo lush it and you it's dated the 17th of July 2017 and it is a statement made by mr. Nu to the police and so while it doesn't carry a
00:22:23 police and so while it doesn't carry a statement of truth it carries the statement of at the top that it's true to the best of my knowledge and belief yes and so that statement its reference is at M et 4:07 347 and it's a
00:22:37 is at M et 4:07 347 and it's a three-page statement and again the entirety of that statement goes into the record but I wish to read some extracts
00:22:48 record but I wish to read some extracts from it yes and these extracts relate to the events of the night on page one the statement reads I was in my bedroom at flat 155 Grenville tower at about 115
00:23:01 flat 155 Grenville tower at about 115 hours I woke up I could smell smoke my window is open I could see sparks of light and smoke outside my window as a result I realized the building was on fire as soon as I
00:23:13 the building was on fire as soon as I realized that came out of my room and shouted to Burke T Hoff Tom fire fire Berg T fire go over mr. chairman to the
00:23:24 Berg T fire go over mr. chairman to the second page and just picking it up from the beginning with the second paragraph which begins going back to the incident statement reads going back to the
00:23:36 statement reads going back to the incident I was looking for my trousers and my passport birds he was shouting to me come out come out by now it was about 120 hours I heard her voice in the door of the flat and the front door slam I
00:23:47 of the flat and the front door slam I was now beginning to panic I had two pairs of trousers on I left the flat a few minutes later with my passport birth certificate and important documents in a folder in the communal area I saw a lady I've met
00:24:00 communal area I saw a lady I've met before called Kinnett she lives at flat won 5-3 with her husband and her two children flat won five threes directly opposite flat 155 I walked towards of
00:24:12 opposite flat 155 I walked towards of communal stairway and opened the door it was filled with thick choking smoke I thought it would be best to stay on the 18th floor and wait to be rescued I went with Gannett to flat one five three by
00:24:24 with Gannett to flat one five three by this time her husband was just outside the flat we went inside inside flat one five three we could see lots of people outside we were shouting help us at this
00:24:35 outside we were shouting help us at this point we could see lots of firemen but no fire engines at this point I had not yet called 999 we stayed in the flat until about Oh two hundred hours a fireman with breathing apparatus knocked
00:24:46 fireman with breathing apparatus knocked on the door I asked him are we safe in here he nodded his head as if to say yes my den said have you controlled the fire he nodded his head again as if to say
00:24:57 he nodded his head again as if to say yes the fireman said to me open the windows get fresh air closed the door and prevent smoke coming in a short while later a lady from flat one five two came to flat one five three with her
00:25:10 two came to flat one five three with her three children I do not know their names I call police at o2 31 hours I said there was a fire we're on the 18th floor we need help the lady from flat one five
00:25:21 we need help the lady from flat one five two said her flat was caught on fire we started to notice that the fire was coming from flat one five two on the outside of the building we closed the window on the south side of flat one five three and moved to the window on
00:25:33 five three and moved to the window on the west side of the flat by this time the children were shouting and screaming it was like hell at about Oh three thirty hours there was another knock at
00:25:44 thirty hours there was another knock at the door than the husband from flat one five three he said to us let's let's get some cloths and soak them in water he said the firefighters are outside the door we all assembled by the door
00:25:55 door we all assembled by the door I had the five-year-old child on my right hand the husband had the three-year-old I went outside I grabbed a fireman with my left hand I had the boy in my right hand
00:26:06 boy in my right hand the others were behind me there was thick black choking smoke you could hardly see there was more than one fireman there was confusion I said to
00:26:18 fireman there was confusion I said to the fireman go go I was hoping to be led to safety fireman was leading me down the stairs my left hand was tucked into the right arm of the fireman as we went down it became
00:26:30 the fireman as we went down it became harder and harder we were choking on thick black smoke we were becoming exhausted and confused at about halfway down the building I realized the five-year-old boy was no longer with me
00:26:42 five-year-old boy was no longer with me I was beginning to lose consciousness I was mentally exhausted from the trauma the fireman was still with me I was leaning on him without the fireman
00:26:53 leaning on him without the fireman helping me I could not have made it out of the building as I exited the building I was given oxygen by the farmer mr. chairman that's all I propose for you in that statement thank you
00:27:11 yes thank you very much
00:27:19 mr. chairman I propose to take over the reading and read statements relating to the evidence that you heard yesterday afternoon from Rabiya yaaaa yes thank
00:27:30 afternoon from Rabiya yaaaa yes thank you relating to her floor and much of this comes from friends and family who are in contact with her on that night can we start please with the statement of Khadija gir
00:27:41 of Khadija gir she is Revere's mother statement is dated the 1st of June 2018 and there's a statement of truth at page 11 of that statement and the references iaws five
00:27:53 statement and the references iaws five zeroes six six four and she explains that she had moved into Grenfell tower
00:28:04 that she had moved into Grenfell tower into flat 42 with her husband muhammad in around 1986 after the birth of her first child and prior to the refurbishment it was the foot it was the
00:28:15 refurbishment it was the foot it was the fourth floor and then they moved to Behrend and walk and had been living there for over 20 years before the night of the fire and their flat is in the middle of Barrington ward in addition to
00:28:28 middle of Barrington ward in addition to rabbir there are other daughters she has and she's explained who they are in her statement and she says as we know Revere lived at 152 Grenfell tower she
00:28:41 lived at 152 Grenfell tower she describes the night of the fire in some detail so can I pick it up at paragraph 23 of her statement on page 5 of that statement and she explains that she had
00:28:56 statement and she explains that she had gone to the tower and she says in the second sentence I remember my brother and my sisters running over to me there were a lot of other people surrounding the building as well I think it was around 1:00 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. I remember
00:29:09 around 1:00 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. I remember looking up to the tower and seeing people above the flames on the same side of the building screaming crying and waving for help there were a lot of people around me on the grass who were also crying and screaming for help I remember seeing a lot of familiar
00:29:20 I remember seeing a lot of familiar faces but not really acknowledging anyone I think I may have seen some of the Elwha Hobby family who were close friends of ours but I cannot recall exactly who everyone seemed desperate to help some
00:29:31 everyone seemed desperate to help some particularly the younger ones wanted to go in my son in law's brother labayda got into a fight with the policeman because we could see pools of firefighters congregating on the grass verge but doing nothing it just seemed
00:29:42 verge but doing nothing it just seemed to feel everyone's frustration the smoke started to become overbearing from where we were stood underneath the Sports Centre the police started to push us back which was when the debris apparently started to fall I don't
00:29:54 apparently started to fall I don't remember seeing any debris I just remember focusing on the fire and smoke the police pushed us back to a van Daele Park Road where we congregated we were stood on the corner by number 40 where the road meets freshers place tension
00:30:07 the road meets freshers place tension was mounting as we were watching the fire spread within ten minutes of being outside the fire shot up the right-hand column of the East facade I think this would have been 1:15 to 1:45 a.m. it
00:30:19 would have been 1:15 to 1:45 a.m. it seemed like there was a pipe that the fire spread up it shot up as fast as you can imagine it was like switching on a torch it looked like petrol or gas had been sprayed on the pipe I didn't feel like I could be any more panic but when
00:30:31 like I could be any more panic but when I saw how quickly it spread I felt completely helpless and more overwhelmed that I could cope with I felt hysterical the fire seemed to veer round towards the North facade across the top of the tower and then come back around the East
00:30:43 tower and then come back around the East facade and head towards the South facade as it started to come back round the building towards the South facade it was heading towards rabi as flat I was in sheer panic and couldn't bear to look at
00:30:55 sheer panic and couldn't bear to look at the devastation unfolding before my eyes but my head was unable to move there was a constant background noise of people screaming but my eyes were fixated on Rab ears flat I knew she was in there
00:31:06 Rab ears flat I knew she was in there and I knew I couldn't help her my sister covered my face with her scarf so I couldn't see how the fire was developing I remember collapsing I don't remember what I was saying but I remember being absolutely hysterical my sister and my
00:31:19 absolutely hysterical my sister and my sister-in-law were trying to lift me back to my feet each of them held me underneath my arms but I had no strength I was inconsolable and my legs would not work I'm unsure of the timings but it
00:31:30 work I'm unsure of the timings but it may have been around the 2:00 a.m. mark when the fire reached rabia's flat I think this because I vaguely remember my brother encouraging people to drink water
00:31:39 water it would have been the last opportunity for the day however I was unable to concentrate on anything but Revere's safety at some point during the course of the evening my son had returned to the flat to collect our phones or a beer
00:31:51 the flat to collect our phones or a beer called and was initially speaking to Muhammad he put her on speakerphone and someone passed the phone to me she was saying her goodbyes she was very calm but telling me she loved me and asking
00:32:02 but telling me she loved me and asking me to let her dad know that she loves him very dearly she said she was going to pray and would call back I knew these could potentially be her final moments I was still on the floor at this point
00:32:13 was still on the floor at this point unable to comprehend the gravity of what was going on I remember a few minutes later Rabiya calling back she was on Nyla's phone and told us that the fire had hit her flat she had gone to her neighbor's to take shelter but the fire
00:32:25 neighbor's to take shelter but the fire was worse and at his and what he was trying to jump from the window Muhammad and my brother were demanding her to leave
00:32:32 leave they were pleading with her and telling her to get wet towels and cover their faces she said this mate was too bad but thank God she eventually agreed to try Rabia stayed on the line as she tried to escape but didn't talk we could hear
00:32:44 escape but didn't talk we could hear their footsteps running down the stairs and other people's screams then suddenly nothing I truly believed she had died I was completely in Constable and think I fainted everything is a blur from here onwards I remember coming round and
00:32:57 onwards I remember coming round and hearing someone who sounded really far away saying I can hear footsteps she's coming she's alive wake up someone was trying to rouse me with the reassurance that Robbie was alive and that she
00:33:08 that Robbie was alive and that she continues with the rest of the description of the night and how she was reunited with her family her daughter's family
00:33:19 family like all these statements mr. chairman that statement in its entirety will stand in the record and be evidence to thee and be taken into account in its entirety the next statement is the
00:33:31 entirety the next statement is the statement of mr. mohammad marie mu which has a reference of iws quadruple 0 1 1 7 2
00:33:45 and he as a friend of Revere's and he describes from paragraph 19 his arrival
00:33:57 describes from paragraph 19 his arrival at the fire and his first observations he has exhibited a number of videos which which are also part of this statement and can be found in the number
00:34:10 statement and can be found in the number of exhibit numbers which I shall read into the record now iws one nine six one eight nine one nine five one eight eight
00:34:21 eight nine one nine five one eight eight one nine four one nine zero one nine one and 187 and at paragraph 22 just reading
00:34:39 and 187 and at paragraph 22 just reading that he says I had a friend who lived in the tower on the 18th floor his name is Bill out he was not there on the night of the fire however he had a wife called Rabiya and children who lived with him I knew Bill and his dad are made since
00:34:51 knew Bill and his dad are made since 2005 I called Ahmed and asked him to call rabbir to see if she was in the flat he never called back I thought I had a chance to go help her I wanted to go in and help her and then he describes
00:35:04 go in and help her and then he describes how the fire spread and at paragraph 26 he says the fire was bright red at this time and there there it was covering the whole east side of the building I could see people in their windows with their
00:35:16 see people in their windows with their lights on this can be seen in the video I took of this at 2:00 a.m. and I was standing on Grenfell Road and then at paragraph 28 he says bill Al's family and I wanted to get closer to the tower
00:35:28 and I wanted to get closer to the tower to help him know what was going on because Revere's phone stopped working we decided to go inside through the middle door up to the door on the north of the walk by the tower and Grenville walk we opened the door at this time the
00:35:42 walk we opened the door at this time the fire was everywhere it was covering the three sides of the tower it was a red fire with a lot of thick smoke it was extremely hot and we found ourselves being unable to move forward because of the heat at this time two police officers came and I started
00:35:54 two police officers came and I started record
00:35:55 record this video was taken at exactly 3:00 a.m. in this video you can see the fire on the building and the police the policeman was speaking to pronounce family and said do not go there you will kill yourself you cannot stay here
00:36:06 kill yourself you cannot stay here because of the heat I spoke to Bill as family and told them to stop and think how to help from here I could see firefighters on the balcony on the tower and there were two firefighters who were closer using a
00:36:18 firefighters who were closer using a hose to try and put out the fire this can be seen in the video I decided to leave and then at paragraph 38 on page 8 of the statement he says I I went to my
00:36:31 of the statement he says I I went to my wife and children and said let's go to your sisters there was not morning time about 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. I took a video at 4:33 which shows that the fire was everywhere it was a dusty red color I
00:36:42 everywhere it was a dusty red color I was standing by a van Daele school which is near a house everyone I saw was upset and crying Somalian Sudanese Moroccan all communities one of my neighbours
00:36:54 all communities one of my neighbours from the black community was crying near the church I encouraged him to pray I went with Layla to her sisters and sat there with my children all the children were panicking and thinking about people who had died I was shocked I couldn't
00:37:05 who had died I was shocked I couldn't stop thinking about the fire I couldn't stop thinking I went back again to see if I could help anyone I saw a fireman and he was very tired in a van close to burned and walk I asked
00:37:16 a van close to burned and walk I asked him about those who died and he said that there was many and he had not seen something like this before I saw then that he was physically and emotionally exhausted I started helping giving people water and blankets and other
00:37:28 people water and blankets and other things I went back to a van Daele school and made a video this video was taken at 504 a.m. the video shows that the fire had gone through the building and there was a lot of smoke the fire can still be
00:37:39 was a lot of smoke the fire can still be seen from the inside and like that like all the other statements again that statement will stand in its entirety as evidence to the inquiry and be taken
00:37:50 evidence to the inquiry and be taken into account accordingly the next statement mr. chairman is from Leyla rouhani who was the wife of muhammad and remove and that has a statement of truth
00:38:02 remove and that has a statement of truth at page 10 it's dated the 18th of May 2008
00:38:05 2008 team it did in fact I say that if I don't think it does have a statement of truth about that page nevertheless I
00:38:16 truth about that page nevertheless I shall reduce him and she describes her experiences of the night from paragraph 21 onwards and our first observation of
00:38:28 21 onwards and our first observation of the fire at 28 and 29 and a 45 to 47 she deserved to 48 she describes what she saw by where fire spread and she says it
00:38:39 saw by where fire spread and she says it apparent 45 with page 7 of the statement the fire moved up and up and up it reached the size but I do not remember how it spread to the sides I just remember it going up high it looked as if the fire had a hundred floors to
00:38:51 if the fire had a hundred floors to travel it would have carried on and taken over all 100 floors the tower was making it weird squeaky and crackling noise there was cladding falling off the tower onto the ground in front on to the grass it was so red in color bright red
00:39:03 grass it was so red in color bright red the fire was spitting out from the tower and again
00:39:16 that statement will stand as evidence into the record and be taken tonight in account in taken into account accordingly and subject to my properly identifying the statement of truth which
00:39:28 identifying the statement of truth which is all night is actually on page 10 of that statement the next statement mr. chairman is a statement from Salama wit des gay and that is IW s 9 v 5 there's a
00:39:46 des gay and that is IW s 9 v 5 there's a statement of truth on page 3 of that statement stated the 18th of May 2018 miss tez gay is the sister of Bertie
00:39:59 miss tez gay is the sister of Bertie haften and the aunt of baroque half time about whom you've heard a little bit old flat 155 on the 18th floor of Grenville tower and she says that she lost sister
00:40:10 tower and she says that she lost sister 30 and her nephew Burak on the night of the fire and she says a paragraph 8 of the statement on page 2 Bertie and
00:40:23 the statement on page 2 Bertie and Baruch were very happy in grenfell Tower but my sister raised many concerns with regards to the refurbishment that recently happened as her radiator was always leaking in the flat had become very cold you could physically feel the
00:40:34 very cold you could physically feel the wind blowing from underneath the windowsill and you could see it as it blew the curtains that covered the window I'm aware that my sister made complains to the tea ma but I believe that her concerns were never properly
00:40:45 that her concerns were never properly answered and I'll just read paragraphs 10 to 14 she says on the morning of the 14th of June 2017 I was sleeping at my
00:40:57 14th of June 2017 I was sleeping at my home at labra Grove and my sister's boyfriend Mickey called at my house he told me that something was wrong with Grenville tower and we should go there immediately and therefore ran to Grenville tower and it seemed everywhere
00:41:09 Grenville tower and it seemed everywhere that I went was blocked by police and fire brigade I met with my sister and a guest a and we frantically ran around the area outside of the tower trying to find the whereabouts of my sister and nephew as we looked up at the building
00:41:21 nephew as we looked up at the building we could see how intense the fire was and how red the flames were there was also an acrid smell in the air from the smoke and I was so worried and concerned for the safety of my sister and nephew as we frantically search for our family
00:41:34 as we frantically search for our family we came across Gannett who was from a country and lived on the same floor as my sister and this gave me hope that they'd escaped the lodger who lived in my sister's flat was also with them and
00:41:46 my sister's flat was also with them and he had advised us that my sister and nephew had left the flat before he did and therefore they must be out tragically I understand them rather than coming down the stairs my sister and Burak went upstairs which unfortunately
00:41:59 Burak went upstairs which unfortunately was the wrong decision as the night became day time we moved our search from grenfell tower to the hospitals that the injured had been moved to as we went to the various hospitals around London we were given no information as to whether
00:42:10 were given no information as to whether our family were in there and it wasn't until a few days later that we were told to give up hope as clearly there had been lost in the fire it also saddens me that Berkeley died when she was pregnant
00:42:22 that Berkeley died when she was pregnant having had it confirmed by her GP and it would have been a further addition to our loving family in London and again mr. chairman that staining will stand as evidence in its entirety in the record
00:42:35 evidence in its entirety in the record had be taken into account the next statement is iws one one one five a statement from our CMO alula Aseema Aluna is the sister Bertie half Tom and
00:42:47 Aluna is the sister Bertie half Tom and the aunt of burek it carries a statement of truth on page three above the signature and is dated the 20th of May 2018 she says at paragraph nine of the
00:43:02 2018 she says at paragraph nine of the statement when reflecting upon the flat that my sister and nephew lived in I remember Bharati complaining about the refurbishment and how much colder her flat was I personally remember the
00:43:13 flat was I personally remember the plastic around the windows and finding that rather odd to me it seemed that there was too much wind that was blowing around the flat which caused concern the paragraphs 11 onward she describes the
00:43:26 paragraphs 11 onward she describes the morning of the 14th of June and I'll just read paragraphs 11 to 13 she says I was in bed when I got a call from my sister's boyfriend at about 1:30 a.m. and he told me that there was a problem
00:43:37 and he told me that there was a problem at Grenfell Tower it was on fire I woke up my two boys and I put them in the car and drove to Ladbroke Grove and on the way I was calling my sister but she was not picking up they also tried my nephews
00:43:50 picking up they also tried my nephews phone and did not get through when we got to the tower it was a blaze and it frightened me I was calling where is my sister and where is my son I refer to Burak as my son at times
00:44:01 I refer to Burak as my son at times given that my children were with me I had to calm myself down and eventually I found my sister's salami wit and the guest day I remember the dark smoke that was emanating from the building and there was a real acrid smell in the air
00:44:13 there was a real acrid smell in the air we could see the people in the building calling out for help but it seemed we could do nothing we just spent the night crying again that statement will stand
00:44:26 crying again that statement will stand in its entirety as evidence to the inquiry yes chairman and will be taken into account accordingly the next statement is the statement from the guest ace M & M ray which is iws 954 the guest December 6th
00:44:41 which is iws 954 the guest December 6th directed half Tom about who we've heard the statement has dated the 18th of May 2018 and it stands under a statement of truth on page 5 over that date and she
00:44:57 truth on page 5 over that date and she says at pages 2 to 3 paragraphs 12 to 15 after the refurbishment she says a paragraph 11 the power of 12 she says
00:45:08 paragraph 11 the power of 12 she says the flat was very cold and she goes on despite the windows being closed there was always a breeze in the flat the curtains would blow in the breeze there was a whistling sound from the
00:45:19 there was a whistling sound from the windows I was able to open the window in the front room of my sister's flat and be able to put my hand down in between the windowsill and the outside cladding there was no cap on the cladding and it seems strange to me that it had been
00:45:31 seems strange to me that it had been left this way my sister was concerned about the work that had been completed as she had signed a petition that the residents have put together to complain about the way the building was was after the refurbishment
00:45:43 and that she describes a paragraph 18 onwards her experience of the fire and I'll pick this up if I can of paragraph 22 the lodger told us that he was woken
00:45:54 22 the lodger told us that he was woken by the smoke and went and knocked on the bedroom doors of Bertie and Burak he told them that they must leave the flat immediately he decided that he would change out of his pajamas before leaving and thus went back into his bedroom he
00:46:07 and thus went back into his bedroom he told us that our sister and nephew therefore left the flat before him when he told us this we therefore had hope that if he was able to escape the building then surely they must have done so too as they left before him we kept
00:46:19 so too as they left before him we kept trying begged his mobile number we were unable to get through to her her phone went dead around 7:00 a.m. by morning we decided that we must now start searching the hospitals to find them
00:46:29 them they spent the next five days going from one hospital to the next in the hope that they made it out by the fifth day we gave up hope we lost our beautiful sister of our
00:46:40 we lost our beautiful sister of our beautiful baroque we subsequently found out that when Burak and Bertie left their flat they took the decision to go upstairs rather than to come down Barracks friend Jessica she was the same
00:46:53 Barracks friend Jessica she was the same age as Burak 12 years old had borrowed burped his phone and had been talking with her mother for 55 minutes before they lost communications with her Jessica Burak and Bertie died together on one of the floors above the 18th
00:47:06 on one of the floors above the 18th floor where she lived that statement like all the others will stand in its entirety in the record and be taken into account in full the next statement is
00:47:19 account in full the next statement is iws 1 0 8 6 this is a statement from the home test of a good British I bet it's dated the 9th of August 2018 or rather
00:47:31 dated the 9th of August 2018 or rather it's signed on that day one looks at page 2 and there is a statement of truth on page 2 he describes himself as the son of Bertie half Tom and the
00:47:42 son of Bertie half Tom and the half-brother of Barrett half Tom about you've heard and he explains the relationship that he had with his family and he says at paragraph nine I just
00:47:53 and he says at paragraph nine I just wished to tell the inquiry that I've been robbed of a life of getting to know my mother and brother on account of the father took place in Greenville Tower on the 14th of June 2017 and again that
00:48:04 the 14th of June 2017 and again that statement will stand in its entirety as evidence in the record finally mr. chairman for this afternoon I come to iws 679
00:48:13 iws 679 iws 679 which is a statement of McCulloch Gepetto who was Burke his partner that's data the 4th of June 2018
00:48:26 partner that's data the 4th of June 2018 and stands under a statement of truth on page 5 of the statement and he explains how he met Becky first of all in London in 2011 and his relationship with her and how they lived and from paragraph 9
00:48:41 and how they lived and from paragraph 9 on was his experiences of the night of the 14th of June 2017 and one can read that and I'll just pick it up at paragraph 15 and 16 and 15 he says I
00:48:53 paragraph 15 and 16 and 15 he says I thought that Becky might have been in touch with Salaam tez gay who lives nearby and I was trying to get as many people as possible to look for Bertie I managed to meet with salaam at her place with others we spread out to continue to
00:49:05 with others we spread out to continue to look Hobart in Burak at this time I didn't doubt that they'd got out of the building but I was worried that they might be injured I knew that Bert his instinct would have been to get out of the building as soon as possible it
00:49:16 the building as soon as possible it would have been common sense to get out of the building we were looking continuously at about 3:00 a.m. a friend of Burke's he saw the lodger you shet he said that Beck's he had left the flat
00:49:27 said that Beck's he had left the flat before him and he had remained behind to change his pajamas he told us that by the time he left the flat curtains were on fire he also said that after leaving he spent time in another flat across the
00:49:38 he spent time in another flat across the landing the information he gave was very confusing
00:49:41 confusing all through the night we were trying to call Betty her phone was ringing until 7 a.m. when it stopped I noticed that at 6:40 a.m. Bertie had logged into the
00:49:52 6:40 a.m. Bertie had logged into the message at viber I'm not confused I have this have this could have been possible then he explains what he did after the fire and again mr. chairman that statement will be taken to account in its entirety can standard
00:50:03 to account in its entirety can standard there's evidence in the record mr. chairman that's all I was proposing myself to read this afternoon from evidence relating to that flat that flat thank you and I think it again it's
00:50:14 thank you and I think it again it's right that I should express our thanks to all those who took time and trouble to make these statements and they will be taken into consideration in full as part of the evidence before the inquiry
00:50:25 part of the evidence before the inquiry Thank You mr. chairman Thank You mr. gentleman I got a hand back to mr. Rawat who has a further set of statements to read for the rest of the afternoon right thank you yes mr. Rowland thank you mr.
00:50:40 thank you yes mr. Rowland thank you mr. Chen at this point I will put into the record statements from three members of the Kadir family you may remember that on the 9th of October you heard all
00:50:52 on the 9th of October you heard all evidence from Mejia Kadare yes and his wife and two of his daughters have made statements to the inquiry and if I put the three of them into the record formally first the first statement is at
00:51:03 formally first the first statement is at iw s500 205
00:51:09 [Music]
00:51:24 and that is the statement of mr. cutters wife Iman al kudi if we go please to the 10th page
00:51:41 we see that there is a statement of truth it's dated the 18th of May two thousand eighteen and signed there are no exhibits that accompany that statement
00:51:52 statement the second stained is of a daughter of Maha Cadell wala qadir her statement is referenced at iws five zeros 208 please
00:52:16 and the last page is again signed with a statement of truth and dated the 18th of May 2018 again stones not accompanied by any exhibits and the third of this trio
00:52:30 any exhibits and the third of this trio of statements is the statement of rawan Kadir also daughter of my hair her statement is at iws five zeros 204
00:52:48 ninth page has the statement of truth signed and with the days of 18th of May 2018 and again this statement has no accompanying exhibits as you may
00:53:00 accompanying exhibits as you may remember mr. chairman mr. Qadir his evidence was that he who was living in June 2017 in flat 64 on the ninth floor
00:53:11 June 2017 in flat 64 on the ninth floor with his wife and three daughters two of whom are Rohan and voila they mrs. al kudi and the three girls
00:53:22 they mrs. al kudi and the three girls had moved into the flat a few months before the fire mr. Qadir himself had lived there for a number of years but as he told you on the night of the fire all five members of the family were at home
00:53:33 five members of the family were at home the girls themselves shared a or slept in the living room to give an indication
00:53:44 in the living room to give an indication of the experience that they went through on the night itself I proposed to read an extract from the statement of rl1 and if I could take you please to iws five
00:53:58 if I could take you please to iws five zeros 204 and if we go to paragraph 11 please and this is Rowan's account of the night paragraph 11 on page three
00:54:14 yes thank you yeah so as I've explained that the family were at home and in this part of Roma center she explains two windows were slightly open my sister and
00:54:25 windows were slightly open my sister and the names redacted smelt a burning smell and then she said I think there's something burning I just remembered when she said that I thought someone may be cooking so I shut both windows as there was slightly open
00:54:36 both windows as there was slightly open although I shut the windows about twenty to thirty minutes later this burning smell intensified we got suspicious my name's redacted but it's my youngest
00:54:47 my name's redacted but it's my youngest sister was leaning her arm on the wall and it was getting really hot she could hear a crackling noises something like burning wood then while I stood up and looked through the window the window was shut she wanted to check where the
00:54:59 shut she wanted to check where the burning smell was coming from we both stood up and opened the window while I stood first then I followed we saw a fire coming from the right side of the building it was huge and scary there was
00:55:12 building it was huge and scary there was burning and black smoke this is about 1:00 2:00 1:30 a.m. I can't remember the time that the smoke was apparent we left the window open I don't think we closed it Lulu my sister's nickname for wala
00:55:25 it Lulu my sister's nickname for wala said could it be the next-door building could it be the school adjacent we were unsure where the fire was coming from we didn't think it was a tower itself as we were inside the fire was all around from
00:55:38 were inside the fire was all around from the other side if you go to the next page the statement continues we went to my parents bedroom out of panic all
00:55:49 my parents bedroom out of panic all three of us ran towards my parents door Lulu said dad wake up get up yelling next door buildings on fire both my parents were asleep and they suddenly woke her shocked said what's going on
00:56:01 woke her shocked said what's going on dad said hand me my crutches they both got up and went to the window and looked through the windows mum got up and opened the bedroom door and let dad get out of the door first they both looked
00:56:13 out of the door first they both looked through the window and saw the glow of the fire he said it's the tower our tower is on fire as soon as dad said it's the towers on fire we were all over the place and panicked
00:56:24 we were all over the place and panicked more dad was trying to calm us down as we were panicking he said I think the fireman will come and put it out and take care of it just thinking about it now has given me heart palpitations statement continues
00:56:36 heart palpitations statement continues dad got worried and went to the front door and he looked out and there was a lot of black smoke the smoke started to get into our flat dad said oh there is
00:56:47 get into our flat dad said oh there is black smoke dad said yes you're right we must go I remember I had my mobile phone in my hand that's before all this happened I was chatting on whatsapp to my friend my phone was still in my hand
00:56:59 my friend my phone was still in my hand the dad said we must go I texted Daniel my friend to say our buildings on fire by the time we got out my friend was saying ok she was waiting for a reply and saying where are you why don't you
00:57:11 and saying where are you why don't you answer are you ok my friend was in Syria at the time everybody was panicking dad said let's go so we put our scarfs on our head and left with our pajamas on
00:57:23 our head and left with our pajamas on everyone just rushed we were able to see but the smoke was there dad wants to make sure that we all left before him he was on crutches so he was too slow so he just said you go ahead there was panic
00:57:36 just said you go ahead there was panic my younger sister didn't have time for a scarf so she grabbed a hat Wella and my younger sister went ahead of all of us then my mum and I followed I cannot remember whether the windows were opened or shut when we left once we
00:57:49 were opened or shut when we left once we left my mum shut the door of the flat dad was the last person he was taking his time on his crutches we headed straight to the communal door there was a sign written on it fire exit where you
00:58:00 a sign written on it fire exit where you push the door you end up on the stairs to save herself from the fire I cannot describe this door because I always use the lift to get to the flat I did not see any of the residents on the landing
00:58:12 see any of the residents on the landing the statement continues there was a lot of grey smoke on the stairs an awful burning smell like an ashtray sztyc smell I couldn't taste anything I heard like a burning wood
00:58:23 anything I heard like a burning wood noise my front door was wooden the smoke was intensive we could barely see the steps the smoke was dark grey just above my head
00:58:31 my head I've been shown a diagram called fire and smoke picture descriptors I'd describe the smokers picture see which states the smoke had formed a thin layer under the ceiling down to just above head height it was difficult to
00:58:43 above head height it was difficult to breathe the smoke was gray when we left the flat I was quite worried about my dad wondering if he will make it I had to stop every moment also to look back I looked back twice at different moments
00:58:54 looked back twice at different moments to keep an eye on him I barely managed to see him but then I was unable to see him any longer because dad was unwell and disabled I was extremely worried and panicking I wished I could meet someone
00:59:06 panicking I wished I could meet someone on the way to carry him to help him make it out the stairway was quite narrow but two people could fit but it was squashed my mum and I tried to rush down and carried on down the stairs it looked
00:59:18 carried on down the stairs it looked like we were one of the last that managed to walk down the stairs as we didn't see anyone it could have been that somewhere unable to leave their flats some might have died because they
00:59:29 flats some might have died because they couldn't leave it felt like the stairs were away from the buildings if they were not part of the tower the reason being normally when you come down the stairs you would see the door each floor they were gnawed oh there are no doors
00:59:40 they were gnawed oh there are no doors to the floors there were many flights of stairs from where we lived but I didn't see any doors it was getting worse well the time when we got to the ground floor I saw four or five men whether were the
00:59:51 I saw four or five men whether were the police I don't know I couldn't tell my mother was crying uncontrollably I was crying I said to a firefighter please help my dad he can't walk my mum said my husband is disabled she repeated it over
01:00:03 husband is disabled she repeated it over and over again the firefighter said which floor I kept saying either 64 so well I think there's as I couldn't make
01:00:15 well I think there's as I couldn't make my head round it they gave me a pen and there's nothing to write on so I wrote on the wall 64 I pointed to the firemen I pointed up saying nine floor we decided to wait to see what they would
01:00:27 decided to wait to see what they would do we must have waited a few minutes the firemen went upstairs I could not see him afterwards then we saw our dad coming taking his time by the time he got down there was less smoke to the
01:00:38 got down there was less smoke to the ground floor he met him we were relieved we were able to breathe we then saw so many people crowds of people outside and that's as far as I proposed to read from that statement like Jim mr. champ
01:00:51 from that statement like Jim mr. champ the last two statements I would ask to put into the record this afternoon and the statement of Linda Ignacio and Wesley Ignacio of flat 62 on the 9th
01:01:02 Wesley Ignacio of flat 62 on the 9th floor a Linda's statement is found at I WS 5 zeroes 8 3 0
01:01:19 and if we and we have the last page up on the screen which page 12 of the statement and shows that it's carries a statement of truth is dated to 28th of June 2018 and is signed there are two
01:01:34 June 2018 and is signed there are two exhibits ei1 and ei2 and their references are iws five zeroes 8 to 7 and i WS 5 zeroes 8 to 8 i put the
01:01:46 and i WS 5 zeroes 8 to 8 i put the statement of websley Ignacio into the record that statement is at I WS 5 zeroes 8 to 6
01:02:03 and as we see on the last page page 17 sure we've come up
01:02:40 statement carries the date 27th of June it's signed and accompanied by a statement of truth there is one exhibit the reference of which is iws five zeros
01:02:52 the reference of which is iws five zeros eight to four to give some background mr. chairman mrs. Ignacio lived in flat 62 with her husband Eduardo and their son Wesley and
01:03:04 husband Eduardo and their son Wesley and his wife and daughter mr. and mrs. Ignacio had moved into Breville tower in 1983 they had a tenancy with our bkc Eduardo Ignacio was
01:03:15 tenancy with our bkc Eduardo Ignacio was not present on the night of the fire but the rest of the family were at home if I could go back please - Linda agnostics statement and just put into the record
01:03:27 statement and just put into the record certain extracts of that statement if I go to page 4 which though it's iaws eight-30 page 6 forgive me
01:03:44 and pick it up at paragraph 30 mrs. Ignacio says this prior to the refurbishment I remember seeing fire extinguishers in Greenville tower but these disappeared afterwards as a fire
01:03:56 these disappeared afterwards as a fire extinguish on our landing stored behind glass that you would have to break to access they used to be one on the ground floor just before the less I did not I do not know if there were any on other floors there were no sprinklers they
01:04:08 floors there were no sprinklers they used to be a main fire alarm at the tower I remember one time when this went off when we all had to leave the building I'm not sure if this was for a fire drill of there was an actual fire but we all left the building and
01:04:19 but we all left the building and assembled on the grasp area between the tower and the leisure center I think this happened before the recent refurbishment it may have been around 2015 but I'm not sure the only guidance
01:04:30 2015 but I'm not sure the only guidance I was aware of on what to do in the event of a fire came from a sign that was on the ground floor near the lifts it said that you should not use the lifts in the event of a fire but you should go into your flat close the door
01:04:42 should go into your flat close the door and put sheets around the edge of your daughter to stop smoke coming in as a result of this sign I was aware there was a policy to stay put in the event of the fire my thought will always have
01:04:53 the fire my thought will always have been to leave the building in the event of a fire as was the case on 14th of June 2017 mr. chairman if I take now to mrs. ignacio's account and her
01:05:06 mrs. ignacio's account and her description of the events of 2014 and if I go to power 2017 forgive me if I go please to page 8 and paragraph 42
01:05:29 paragraph 42 page 8 please the references I WS v 0 is 83 0 8 please
01:06:20 can you just go through two pages forward
01:06:29 thank you another pain thank you very much enough again to just put what I'm about to read into some context on the night of the 14th of June
01:06:43 context on the night of the 14th of June 2017
01:06:44 2017 mrs. Ignacio with in bed with her granddaughter and her son and his wife were in the second bedroom and flat and she recalls being awake around 12:30 a.m. and tossing and turning until
01:06:58 a.m. and tossing and turning until around 1:00 a.m. and if I pick it up from paragraph 42 my bedroom window was open I was struggling to sleep properly I was disturbed by a banging noise that sounded like binman
01:07:09 sounded like binman I thought it must have been morning and wondered why the bin men had to come so early I could also hear muffled voices and thought a couple was arguing ordinarily I would have brushed his
01:07:20 ordinarily I would have brushed his aside and tried to get back to sleep but something told me to get up I looked out of my bedroom window which is self facing I could not see anything so I went to the kitchen window which is east
01:07:31 went to the kitchen window which is east facing and was already open as I looked out the window I saw a crowd of people staring up at the tower and I could hear the commotion outside I could also smell smoke as I started to close the kitchen
01:07:43 smoke as I started to close the kitchen window I saw a flamed a piece of material fall from above the flat and towards the ground I knew we had to get out of the building and started to panic I ran into my son's room Wesley was fast
01:07:55 I ran into my son's room Wesley was fast asleep and snoring I shouted that we needed to leave as the building was on fire he looked confused and disorientated as he had been woken up but he soon noticed that his mobile
01:08:07 but he soon noticed that his mobile phone which was on silent was actually ringing wesleyan surname was Rhian who I call hazel she's my goddaughter and lives on Behrend and walk she'd been trying to call us both about the fire
01:08:18 trying to call us both about the fire and Hazel told Wesley to get out of the building as it was on fire I ran to grab my keys phone and a coat in case it was cold outside Wesley wrapped his daughter was still
01:08:30 Wesley wrapped his daughter was still asleep in a blanket was on my bed after we put our shoes on we all left together we left so quickly that I was still in my nightdress I think it took no more than five minutes for us to leave her flat
01:08:40 flat I work Wesley at no point did any of our smoke alarms go off while we were in the flat
01:08:45 flat I opened the flat door to discover the communal area was empty I do not remember there being any smoke in the communal area I was not paying close attention as I was anxious to get out of
01:08:56 attention as I was anxious to get out of the building where's the we left first carrying his daughter in his arms and Madeline followed I was the last leave on the way out I went to grab my bag Wesley told me to leave it I shut the
01:09:08 Wesley told me to leave it I shut the front door behind me which I had to physically close otherwise it would have stayed open we headed straight to the communal stairwell which is the only way out of the building I do not remember seeing or hearing any of our neighbors
01:09:20 seeing or hearing any of our neighbors at this time I knew not to use the lifts in a fire because of the signs by the lifts on the ground floor the communal lighting was working on the ninth floor landing and in the communal stairwell when we opened the door to the communal
01:09:33 when we opened the door to the communal stairwell it automatically shut behind us initially I do not remember there being any smoke in the stairway I did not see any neighbors on the stairs we walked quickly down the stairs we did not run where's Lee was in front with
01:09:45 not run where's Lee was in front with his daughter Madeline and I were a few steps behind I was at the back we sped up as we got closer to the fourth floor this was when I started to see smoke visibility was deteriorating and there
01:09:56 visibility was deteriorating and there was a haze of white grey smoke it was everywhere but you could still see through it my main focus was just getting out of the building I started coughing and there was a bad smell you
01:10:07 coughing and there was a bad smell you could really smell the smoke and I had a funny taste in my mouth we continued through the smoke and by the third floor it started to clear which was a massive relief I knew don't remember any smoke after the second
01:10:18 remember any smoke after the second floor I thought there would be a stampede of people leaving the building but in fact we saw almost no one on the communal stairwell this is surprising given it was the only way in and out of the tower and the number of people in
01:10:30 the tower and the number of people in the tower the only person I saw on the stairs with a man with crutches who lived on our floor I do not remember seeing any fighter fighters until we reached the bottom the stairs were not
01:10:41 reached the bottom the stairs were not slippery or wet and there were no obvious obstructions my estimator took us around 710 minutes to reach the bottom of grenfell Tower when we reach ground level there was a couple even just in front of us
01:10:52 just in front of us we were ushered out by police officers who kept shouting keep going and get out and that's as far as I proposed to read from that statement mr. chairman but if I could just read a short extract from
01:11:04 I could just read a short extract from the statement of Wesley Ignacio please
01:11:09 if I take you to the reference is iws five zeros eight to six eleven please
01:11:29 from paragraph sixty-four Wesley begins I had my daughter in my arms and opened the front door of our flat there was a burning smell from the moment I left my front door I saw smoke in the lobby area
01:11:42 front door I saw smoke in the lobby area but it was not thick at the time I could see the stairwell door the smoke was at head high and light gray in color I did not hear any fire alarm and saw the smoke drifting towards the left-hand side of the lobby I did not see any of
01:11:55 side of the lobby I did not see any of our neighbors we all left the flat together and I close the front door behind us we did not use the lift we turned left and then immediately right opening the fire door onto the communal stairwell which was located a few meters
01:12:08 stairwell which was located a few meters from our flat I did not see any of my neighbors in the lobby area the fire door shut behind us and we entered the stairwell the communal lights were on I could see smoke in the stairwell but it
01:12:20 could see smoke in the stairwell but it was not thick it was at head height if I held out my hand in front of me I would still be able to see it I could also see the handrail we all quickly started walking down the stairs and maintained
01:12:31 walking down the stairs and maintained the same pace throughout we did not run as we got down the stairs the smoke became thicker but I would still be able to see my hand if I stuck it out in front of me I did not see any flames
01:12:43 front of me I did not see any flames until I exerted the tower I was panicking and felt nervous but tried to stay calm for my family you could just feel that something was terribly wrong I kept checking on my family I told him to
01:12:55 kept checking on my family I told him to keep going that everything was going to be fine my wife held tightly on to me at around the sixth or seventh floor the smoke started getting thicker like a fog and darker but I could still see my feet
01:13:07 and darker but I could still see my feet and my family I was really worried for my daughter she was only seven months and the smoke was obviously affecting her I was worried because she was so small when we got to the 6th floor I
01:13:18 small when we got to the 6th floor I could feel the heat of the fire it got hotter the lower down we went I just wanted to get out I was really scared my adrenaline was pumping he passed my
01:13:29 adrenaline was pumping he passed my neighbors from flat 64 my neighbors from flat 64 walking down the stairs on his crutches around the 5th floor I did not speak to him and we carried on as we got to the 3rd or 4th floor I saw a fireman
01:13:42 to the 3rd or 4th floor I saw a fireman he was stationary on the stairwell and shouting but I do not know what or to who I assumed he was shouting at other firefighters but I did not see anyone else this firefighter do not talk or
01:13:53 else this firefighter do not talk or engage with me this was the first firefighter that I had seen since leaving the flat I saw a hose on the stairs but I cannot remember where the stairs were not slippery
01:14:04 where the stairs were not slippery slippery and I could not see any debris we continued walking quickly down the stairs to the bottom we did not stop just before we reached a foyer there was another fireman who told us to keep
01:14:15 another fireman who told us to keep going we headed into the foyer and towards the exit I passed Moe who was with his dad I understand that the CCTV footage captures us all leaving the tower by the main entrance at 1:30 4:00 a.m. I was
01:14:28 main entrance at 1:30 4:00 a.m. I was first with my daughter followed by my wife and mum I estimated took us around 10 minutes to get to the ground floor from the ninth floor as we finally made it out of Bream fault our firefighters
01:14:39 it out of Bream fault our firefighters just outside directed us to the other side of the road to Kensington leisure center there were more firefighters on Grant Hall Road mr. chairman that's where I proposed to stop with that statement and that is the last statement
01:14:51 statement and that is the last statement we proposed to read into the record today thank you well again we're very grateful to those people who's providing the statements as you've been reading from and they will of course will be taken into consideration thank you thank
01:15:02 taken into consideration thank you thank you very much so is that it for the day yes right and we resume tomorrow there's another live witness yes good thank you very much at 10 o'clock
01:15:14 thank you 10 o'clock tomorrow then please