Emotional presentations on behalf of the families of Victoria King, Alexandra Atala, Khadija Saye, and Mary Mendy, who died in Grenfell Tower. Counsel described the victims' lives, their mental health vulnerabilities, and the circumstances of their deaths.
00:00:19 foreign [Music]
00:00:28 good morning everyone welcome to today's hearing today we're going to hear further presentations in relation to those who died in the fire yes Mr yes Mr chairman thank you very
00:00:40 yes Mr yes Mr chairman thank you very much good morning to you good morning members of the panel I would now invite Mr Danny Friedman Queen's Council please to come back to the podium to make the presentation on behalf of the families of Victoria or Vicki King and Alexandra
00:00:54 of Victoria or Vicki King and Alexandra atala from Flat 172 on floor 20 of grenfell Tower and as before I would give the trigger warning that what Mr Friedman is about to say or show you may
00:01:05 Friedman is about to say or show you may contain material which is distressing and therefore those in the room may wish to leave now or to look away from the live stream as the case may be Mr Friedman thank you
00:01:33 foreign
00:01:40 [Music] Victoria Joanna King known as Vicky was born in Highgate London on the 12th of June 1946.
00:01:52 London on the 12th of June 1946. she was 71 years old at the time of her death
00:01:57 Vicky's daughter Alexandra Catherine atala was born in reading on the 24th of April 1977. she was 40 years old
00:02:09 Vicki and Alexandra moved into flat 172 on the 20th floor of grenfell tower in 1998.
00:02:18 1998. they are survived by family who include Victoria's sister Penelope Pierce Victoria's brother Mark Bennett Victoria's half-brother Jonathan Bennett
00:02:30 Victoria's half-brother Jonathan Bennett and his family wife Victoria and daughters Joanna Jessica and Jennifer as well as Alexandra's father and
00:02:41 as well as Alexandra's father and Victoria's former husband erka Nutella
00:02:47 when Alexandra was about around one year old Vicki separated from Mr atala and she and her daughter moved first to Winchester then to Australia and then
00:02:58 Winchester then to Australia and then traveled in Europe and elsewhere settling at some point in Turkey they came back to England in late 1993. following their move to grenfell Tower
00:03:11 following their move to grenfell Tower family members attempted to contact Vicki and Alexandra over the years without success although Vicki's sister Penny was able to have some limited contact with them through the Salvation
00:03:22 contact with them through the Salvation Army at times Vicki and Alexandra were no longer in contact with family or friends at the time of their death they were missing but they were missed
00:03:35 they were missing but they were missed at the commemoration hearing the family were able to share photographs of Vicki and Alexandra that remembered them in happy and healthy times these are the photos that were shown
00:03:46 these are the photos that were shown today
00:03:49 there are certain residents who to date the inquiry has heard very little about for the reason that there is no evidence in relation to their actions on the night of the fire that was the case with the presentations
00:04:01 that was the case with the presentations for legaya Moore and Sheila yesterday Vicky and Alexandra fall into the same category
00:04:09 category in order to understand why that is the case for them it is important for the panel to consider their vulnerability as described in the detailed witness statement of Mark Bennett that can be
00:04:21 statement of Mark Bennett that can be found for your reference at iws four zeros1882
00:04:28 zeros1882 this evidence was read into the record on the 20th of May 2021 and the reference for that is day 134 page 100 line 30.
00:04:41 page 100 line 30. this family has worked hard and carefully to explain to you the predicament of two people with long-term mental ill health that impaired their ability to evacuate the tower without
00:04:54 ability to evacuate the tower without Assistance or to seek rescue such assistance required some form of pre-arranged plan and information sharing that you know was generally unavailable to all who might have needed
00:05:06 unavailable to all who might have needed it within the tower this is an extreme and sad case of that type
00:05:13 type there are some brief facts about the vulnerability of the two residents including what was known about it that the family want me to highlight to you today
00:05:24 when Vicky King and Alexandra atala returned from living abroad for more than 10 years in the early 1990s they were both admitted to hospital and treated under the mental health Act
00:05:37 treated under the mental health Act this occurred in 1994. in circumstances in which Vicky King had exhibited highly paranoid beliefs Alexandra atala complained of a bowel
00:05:48 Alexandra atala complained of a bowel illness which Vicki believed was caused by poisoning following their hospitalization rbkc arranged an urgent housing referral
00:06:01 while living in temporary hotel accommodation in Kensington and awaiting housing Vicky King and Alexandra atala continue to have difficulty managing their Mental Health
00:06:12 their Mental Health however they were unwilling or unable to sustain any substantial psychiatric treatment or seek support by the time of the allocated tenancy to
00:06:24 by the time of the allocated tenancy to grenfell Tower in early 1998 both mother and daughter were acknowledged to have significant mental health needs with Alexandra recorded to be especially vulnerable at the time that the grenfell
00:06:36 vulnerable at the time that the grenfell tenancy began start date of the tenancy at flat 172 was 26th of January 1998.
00:06:46 during that period of tenancy both residents significant vulnerabilities would be documented on multiple occasions
00:06:55 occasions by way of key examples in 2006 Vicky King reported to rbkc tenancy support service that she herself had not seen a doctor since 1994.
00:07:07 had not seen a doctor since 1994. despite her self-described difficulties with anxiety Behavior strongly suggestive of mental health issues observed by residents and staff was also noted in her housing
00:07:19 staff was also noted in her housing records
00:07:20 records this included TMO officers recording Vicky as suffering from quote mood swings for no apparent reason shouting in the reception area for no
00:07:31 shouting in the reception area for no reason kicking the lift door shouting and Vicky behaving quote quite out of the ordinary making no eye contact offering only one word responses and
00:07:44 offering only one word responses and being distant aloof reserved guarded unforthcoming Patrick dullova the neighbor at one flat 174 may have been referring to either
00:07:56 174 may have been referring to either daughter or mother when she described a woman in her late 50s or early 60s who was very reclusive and housebound but she seemed very nice the age description would suggest that
00:08:09 the age description would suggest that this was Vicky Alexandra atala's own mental health condition caused her to seldom leave grenfell tower for at times years on end
00:08:20 grenfell tower for at times years on end if at all
00:08:22 if at all and to be rarely seen by anyone the TMO tenancy Information Form dated June 2015 apparently filled in by talking to Vicky King
00:08:33 talking to Vicky King refer to Alexandra atala but not Vicky as suffering from a mental health problem which was described by her mother as phobic anxiety nervous
00:08:45 mother as phobic anxiety nervous disorder
00:08:46 disorder it referred to Alexandra atala's last contact with a doctor dating back to 2009 at that and and that when she had been prescribed medication she had
00:08:58 been prescribed medication she had suffered anxiety attacks
00:09:02 Alexandra atala's GP records from the Exmore surgery dating from November 2016 to June 2017 referred to diagnoses of
00:09:14 to June 2017 referred to diagnoses of panic disorder phobic anxiety and agrophobia going back to 1994. it appears that following contact with a psychiatrist and her GP these diagnoses
00:09:26 psychiatrist and her GP these diagnoses were affirmed but for reasons unknown Alexandra declined further assessment or assistance
00:09:36 can I turn to some additional features of what was known before the fire about the vulnerability of these residents in 2001 Vicky King made the first of
00:09:47 in 2001 Vicky King made the first of several applications to move from the tower this one was subsequently withdrawn
00:09:53 withdrawn she cited problems faced by Alexandra atala with regard to how living on floor 17 I.E what became floor 20 after the refurbishment would badly exacerbating
00:10:04 refurbishment would badly exacerbating her mental illness the application also made clear that they had no telephone the situation of having no telephone and not wanting to be contacted would emerge
00:10:16 not wanting to be contacted would emerge as a theme in later documents a further application to relocate was made in 2003 this time it was not actioned because of rent arrears
00:10:27 rent arrears Vicky now cited her own need to move away from the tower because quote the 17th floor is too high and I am made nervous by The Continuous noise made by helicopters
00:10:39 helicopters she submitted mental health documents relating to both herself and her daughter
00:10:44 daughter setting out that they had suffered from mental health problems since at least 1994.
00:10:49 1994. again the application made clear that they had no telephone with n a recorded on contact details
00:11:00 between 2004 to 2006 there were several actions for rent arrears dealt with by the TMO and rbkc the recurring and Elementary theme was
00:11:13 the recurring and Elementary theme was that Alexandra atala was unable to establish her stable entitlement to benefits on disability grounds because she did not submit to examination by relevant medical health professionals
00:11:25 relevant medical health professionals she would not go out of the flat either she or her mother or both did not want anyone to come in
00:11:35 aside from drawing attention to the vulnerable status of both residents the rent areas applications also again show that the family had no telephone it was therefore known that in the event
00:11:46 it was therefore known that in the event of an emergency this family could not be contacted and neither could they make contact with Emergency Services
00:11:55 in January 2013 the TMO made an emergency referral to rbkc's tenancy support service for Vicki King regarding further renterias
00:12:06 further renterias the referral noted the referral noted that both Vicki and Alexandra were quote suffering from mental health is illness so they both need assistance
00:12:17 so they both need assistance that they were vulnerable and disabled on account of their mental health problems and once again they had no telephone
00:12:26 during the summer of 2013 the Tennessee support service discussed with Vicky the need for her daughter to make an application for disability related benefits
00:12:37 benefits at that time inquiries were made with social services and the local Community Mental Health Service regarding previous involvement with Alexandra however in July 2013 Vicky declined
00:12:51 however in July 2013 Vicky declined further appointments
00:12:54 during the course of the refurbishment between 2014 and 2015. Ryden and the TMA were aware that Vicky King and Alexandra atala's living conditions were Spartan in the extreme
00:13:07 conditions were Spartan in the extreme and that both residents were vulnerable the ride and work survey of the 11th of November 2014 notes quote Flatt is
00:13:18 November 2014 notes quote Flatt is nearly bare and covered with see-through plastic
00:13:22 plastic and that the tenant has mental health problems alongside her daughter requiring sensitivity it was actioned that the pair should be contacted quote via letters
00:13:35 contacted quote via letters a July 2015 Works list similarly similarly advised that Alexander Attalla was essentially confined to her bed due to her quote mental condition
00:13:48 there are photographs that were taken by Ryden during the works that are time stamped 11th of March 2015. I'm not going to bring them up
00:13:59 I'm not going to bring them up but they show all of the windows covered up and almost nothing in a flat the Alexandra almost never left I do ask that you look at these
00:14:11 I do ask that you look at these photographs in your own time panel the reference is iws four zeros one eight nine o
00:14:24 the TMO tenancy information update of 2015 again made clear that there were no phones available to these residents Alexandra atala's rbkc Social Services
00:14:37 Alexandra atala's rbkc Social Services file
00:14:38 file which despite previous involvement was only active from 2016. indicates that there was a referral to North Kensington Community Health Team in October 2016 which was formally
00:14:51 in October 2016 which was formally accepted on the system in January 2017. in turn Exmore surgery records show that Alexandra atala joined the GP surgery on
00:15:02 Alexandra atala joined the GP surgery on the 1st of November 2016. the telephone number for North Kensington Law Center was provided as the only contact telephone number a GP home visit on the 8th of November
00:15:15 a GP home visit on the 8th of November 2016 noted various diagnoses including chronic and phobic anxiety panic disorder and agoraphobia with panic attacks and that there had been a
00:15:27 panic attacks and that there had been a referral to Social Services
00:15:31 on the 24th of May 2017 Social Services contacted the GP as they were concerned that they were not able to contact Alexandra atala directly and that the
00:15:42 Alexandra atala directly and that the only contact was via North Kensington Law Center further contact between the 1st of June and the 7th of June 2017 took place
00:15:53 and the 7th of June 2017 took place between agencies indicating concern from rbkc social services and from North Kensington Law Center about Alexandra atala's well-being there was a further joint home visit
00:16:06 there was a further joint home visit from social services and the GP on the 7th of June 2017. prompted as noted in the medical records by the concerns that Alexandra was never seen outside of the
00:16:17 Alexandra was never seen outside of the flat and had not left the flat for 10 years
00:16:21 years Vicki King was recorded to be reluctant to allow entry when the visit had not been notified in writing the GP gained admission to the flat after calling 999 and obtaining police
00:16:34 after calling 999 and obtaining police assistance a further visit by the GP without social workers took place on the 12th of June 2017.
00:16:43 2017. it appears that Alexandra atala declined examination and reiterated she did not want any psychiatric intervention or medication the medical report sent To Her Majesty's
00:16:56 the medical report sent To Her Majesty's coroner Dr Wilcox after the fire reiterated the multi-agency concern that Alexandra katala had not left the property for over 10 years
00:17:08 property for over 10 years panel that takes us to the events of the 13th and 14th of June
00:17:19 CCTV footage shows Vicky King in the lift Lobby of grenfell tower at 1533 on the 13th of June about to go up into the building
00:17:30 building for this family the police checked other CCTV footage that showed that Vicky leaving and entering the premises on the 6th 7th and 8th of June
00:17:42 6th 7th and 8th of June consistence with the evidence that she was housebound no CCTV footage of Alexander hatala leaving or returning to the tower was ever discovered
00:17:54 prior to o126 the fire was already affecting floor 20. this would coincide with the evidence of Adriana Ramirez who spoke to her
00:18:06 Adriana Ramirez who spoke to her daughter Jessica at around that time when she was already on floor 18 having fled from Flat 176. Jessica would subsequently tell the control room that
00:18:17 subsequently tell the control room that flat 176 was on fire when she spoke to them from Flat 201
00:18:25 by 0-130 a call was made by Farah hamdan from Flat 175 to the lfb control room to tell them that smoke was building up in the lobby and she was up on floor 20
00:18:37 the lobby and she was up on floor 20 with young children the presentation for the belkardi family will follow this afternoon
00:18:45 despite the deteriorating conditions on Florida on the floor 20 Lobby other residents from floor 20 were successfully evacuating Emma O'Connor and Luke Towner of flat
00:18:58 Emma O'Connor and Luke Towner of flat 171 heard alarm sounds from somewhere in the building that was definitely nearer than floor four and used the lift to exit not least because of Emma's disabilities
00:19:10 disabilities that enabled them to get to the ground floor lobby at 0119 smoke was coming up through the ventilation system onto floor 20 at the time they left
00:19:21 time they left also Petra deliver in flat 174 was woken at around 0-120 by the sound of alarms in the hallway of the flat with light smoke coming in through the lobby from
00:19:33 smoke coming in through the lobby from the lobby
00:19:34 the lobby by that time miss doliver and her partner let by the time Miss deliver and her partner left the flat at approximately 0137 taking five minutes to exit the building the smoke-filled
00:19:47 to exit the building the smoke-filled conditions in the lobby of the floor were completely blinded them however the stairwell still remained sufficiently free of smoke to make their exit safely once they got beyond the
00:19:58 exit safely once they got beyond the lobby they exited at 0142 various residents would confirm how dense the smoke became on floor 20.
00:20:09 dense the smoke became on floor 20. petradoliver was blinded by it at 0137 Farah hamdan described it as thick and black at 0143 for that reason
00:20:21 for that reason if Vicky King and Alexandra Attalla had opened their front door during this period the smoke wood as Professor Purser has explained undoubtedly have
00:20:32 Purser has explained undoubtedly have been immensely frightening and challenging to them this would have been in contrast to the relatively smoke-free conditions in their home at the time
00:20:44 us the Build-Off of smoke in the lobby one of the causes was that the door to Flat 176 did not self-close Mrs Ramirez has confirmed that in her
00:20:55 Mrs Ramirez has confirmed that in her inquiry statement and when firefighter Padilla reached the floor at about 0-140 he found the door ajar Miss Allison Monroe Queen's Council addressed you generally on the known
00:21:07 addressed you generally on the known facts in relation to self-closing doors during the presentation for Jessica albana Ramirez on the 6th of July 2022 and the reference for that is day 300
00:21:19 and the reference for that is day 300 page 26 line 21 to page 28 line 7. further as we noted yesterday in the presentation for Sheila one of the
00:21:30 presentation for Sheila one of the reasons why Lobby so quickly became affected on so many flaws was because was because between floors 14 to 20. the only flat six door that had a working
00:21:42 only flat six door that had a working self-closer was flat 156 on the 18th floor
00:21:47 floor all other number six doors on these floors did not the evidence is that all of them probably remained open on the night of the fire
00:21:58 the fire according to the phase one report at volume 4 paragraph 24.24 the whole point and critical importance of self-closing devices is to
00:22:09 importance of self-closing devices is to ensure that a flat entrance door closes without the need for fleeing residents to remember to do this thereby maintaining compartmentation and assuring the means of Escape of others
00:22:21 assuring the means of Escape of others that did not occur here
00:22:26 other presentations will develop aspects of this in more detail but the following fire service response occurred in relation to the 20th law
00:22:38 foreign caused a server service request to be made at 0131 it read quote fire on 20th floor also people trapped
00:22:51 floor also people trapped a separate intervention by Jessica's mother calls the group of three firefighters to go to floor 20. this was prompted by firefighter Badillo meeting Mrs Ramirez outside the tower
00:23:02 Mrs Ramirez outside the tower they got to the floor found flat 176 empty but the flat filled with smoke the front door opened and smoke coming out into the lobby they did not knock on other doors before
00:23:15 they did not knock on other doors before their ba sets started to run out and they had to turn back downstairs you will hear in the coming presentation how firefighter Williams and Fernandez were deployed to Flat 175 between 0159
00:23:29 were deployed to Flat 175 between 0159 to 225
00:23:32 to 225 a crew deployed to floor 20 at a similar time consisting of firefighter Welsh and crew manager Eden but had to leave before their air ran out
00:23:43 before their air ran out all these Crews were using standard duration breathing apparatus only their description of the conditions on floor 20 was that it was hot full of thick black smoke with no visibility
00:23:55 thick black smoke with no visibility they banged on doors and shouted through letterbox boxes but obtained no response at this time Vicky King and Alexandra atala remained
00:24:06 Vicky King and Alexandra atala remained in flat 172.
00:24:10 against the above accounts of conditions in the building and the known evidence of Vicki and Alexandra's vulnerabilities it is unlikely that they would have been able to escape from Flat 172 unaided or
00:24:23 able to escape from Flat 172 unaided or even to make their presence known to potential Rescuers without a telephone they were unable to call for assistance
00:24:36 the remains of Vicky and Alexandra were recovered from the first bedroom nearest to the flat front door mother and daughter were lying in close proximity to one another
00:24:50 flat 172 had external walls on the Eastern and Southern elevations of the Tower
00:24:57 Tower analysis of the footage of external flame spread shows that the external walls of flat 172 were fully covered in Flame by respectively o22 and 0306
00:25:10 Flame by respectively o22 and 0306 the bedroom in which Vicky and Alexandra were found was located on the western side of the property with a common wall with flat 173 and a window on the southern elevation of the Tower
00:25:24 southern elevation of the Tower given the lack of any known direct contact with Vicki and Alexandra during the course of the fire the precise time of death is unknown Professor purses Phase 2 report recalls
00:25:35 Professor purses Phase 2 report recalls that the khadir family was forced to flee flat 192 after three o'clock and that the El wahhabi family in flat 182 who will you'll hear about in due course
00:25:47 who will you'll hear about in due course became seriously affected just before three o'clock cumulatively Professor Purser suggests that if Vicki and Alexandra opened the bedroom window to prevent the build-up
00:25:59 bedroom window to prevent the build-up of smoke after 0-130 which is unknown they would have lost Consciousness at around 0310 with the conditions becoming lethal at around 0320
00:26:10 lethal at around 0320 this was before the interior fire overtook the bedroom where they were Sheltering a post-mortem blood sample for Vicky king showed a 58 carbi Hoxie hemoglobin
00:26:24 king showed a 58 carbi Hoxie hemoglobin saturation which is within the lethal range
00:26:29 range based on both the available toxicology evidence
00:26:32 evidence Professor purse as evidence and the analysis of the fire spread the medical cause of death of Vicki and Alexandra can be properly given as the more specific and informative inhalation
00:26:44 more specific and informative inhalation of fire fumes rather than the generic formulation of consistent with the effects of fire currently found in the available post-mortem reports
00:26:59 panel in all the tragic cases that we have presented this case has a particular sadness
00:27:07 sadness it involves a mother and daughter who were deeply connected to one another in life just as they remained connected right up to the moment of death the papers that you have
00:27:19 the papers that you have established by way of evidence Vicky doing her very best to care for her daughter
00:27:25 daughter in both of their real health they also show something about the difficult life that Alexandra lived
00:27:33 lived it is important to the family to present the known facts in public including the real vulnerability of these two people they want the lives of their relatives
00:27:44 they want the lives of their relatives to be visible and for what happened to them to serve as the basis for broader reflection their hope is that this inquiry will Mark what can be learned for the
00:27:56 Mark what can be learned for the purposes of ensuring fire safety for all from what is now known of Vicki and Alexandra's lives and the way that their lives were lost
00:28:09 thank you thank you
00:28:40 thank you very much Mr Friedman um I think it's appropriate that we should have a break at this point so we'll rise now and we'll resume please at 11 o'clock 11 o'clock please
01:01:37 yes Mr minutes yes Mr chairman thank you members of the panel um I would now invite Alison Monroe Queen's Council please to come back to the podium and make the presentation on behalf of the
01:01:48 make the presentation on behalf of the family of Khadija say and Mary Mendy from Flat 173 on floor 20 of grenfell Tower and again as before I would repeat the trigger warning that I've given that
01:02:00 the trigger warning that I've given that during this presentation there may be reference to material which is distressing to some all those of those watching or listening and so they should have sent themselves from the hearing room or look away from the live stream
01:02:11 room or look away from the live stream as the case may be Miss Monroe thank you very much thank you yes
01:02:32 whether it is now or 10 years down the line I have this idea of opening doors like previous artists of color I feel I
01:02:43 like previous artists of color I feel I have the potential to do the same those were the words of Khadija say daughter
01:02:52 daughter artist
01:02:54 artist carer
01:02:55 carer activist young role model friend put simply Khadijah say was an extraordinary and
01:03:06 Khadijah say was an extraordinary and exceptional young woman she had more than the potential she had more than mere Talent she had the inspiration to open those doors
01:03:17 doors so much promised so much more to give so much more to achieve khajija's art represented who she was
01:03:29 represented who she was what she wanted to say about this world and her experiences of it what she wanted to say about other people
01:03:38 people it embodied her politics her activism her spirit her sense of humor
01:03:47 Khadijah was born on the 30th of July 1992 in London to Mary Mendy and Muhammad you say
01:03:58 to Mary Mendy and Muhammad you say both her parents were from The Gambia it was her father muhammadu who gave her her first camera aged just nine to the fledgling photographer it was fun
01:04:11 to the fledgling photographer it was fun it was a hobby it was not something she knew would lead to a career her father said it was this passion that Khadijah pursued to the very end
01:04:24 pursued to the very end because it gave her great satisfaction and brought her some joy and happiness Khadijah excelled at school and at 16
01:04:35 Khadijah excelled at school and at 16 she won a scholarship to rugby Public School
01:04:38 School the girl from the tower block was not phased by this and embraced the opportunities that it presented and opened up for her she went on to study art at the University for the creative arts UCA
01:04:51 University for the creative arts UCA Farnham
01:04:53 Farnham Khadijah always saw herself as an activist and a campaigner and was passionate about social justice and inequalities in society her politics informed her art
01:05:07 her politics informed her art her graduation piece in 2013 was called crowned in it she celebrated via a series of photographs afro-caribbean women and their hairstyles both the
01:05:20 women and their hairstyles both the politics of black women's hair and its beauty
01:05:24 beauty her sitters were her family her friends her neighbors in grenfell Tower her Studio was flat 173 grenfell Tower
01:05:37 her Studio was flat 173 grenfell Tower having graduated Khadijah did a variety of paid work she joined up to creative access a london-based charity that promotes diversity within the creative
01:05:48 promotes diversity within the creative industries by providing work experience for young people from black Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds through a range of paid internships programs and Partnerships
01:06:01 programs and Partnerships but despite the opportunities given to her khajija did not take these things for granted and retained a sense of community she was humble she never forgot where she came from and
01:06:14 she never forgot where she came from and was Keen to give back to her community in her spare time she volunteered at joab a charity that educates and empowers young Muslims
01:06:25 empowers young Muslims her work Eed a series of photographs in vibrant colors celebrated Muslim culture but Khadijah was a child of a Christian and Muslim marriage and themes of
01:06:38 and Muslim marriage and themes of religion spirituality unity and diversity were all there in her works as her father believes it embodied Khadijah he said she was very gentle
01:06:52 Khadijah he said she was very gentle very kind and friendly her burning passion was photography encouraged by her mother Mary Mendy who also lost her life in the same fire
01:07:03 life in the same fire Khadijah said to me one day daddy I'm in love with images
01:07:09 with the permission of her family in her estate I would like to show a print of one of the works from khadijah's final exhibition while I tell you a little bit
01:07:20 exhibition while I tell you a little bit more about that and about her and her mother
01:07:27 the exhibition was titled dwelling in this space we breathe and this is a self-portrait entitled setu
01:07:40 which means spiritual incantation
01:07:45 2017 was khadijah's breakout year when at the tender age of 24 she was on the cusp of something really big her work made with the help of the
01:07:57 her work made with the help of the artist al-modina Romero was exhibited in the diaspora Pavilion at the internationally renowned Art Festival the Venice biennale along some of the
01:08:08 the Venice biennale along some of the biggest names in British art
01:08:13 dwelling in this space we breathe was made up of nine self-portraits using a photographic technique called wet collodion tin types which dates back to
01:08:25 collodion tin types which dates back to 1851.
01:08:27 1851. the image on the screen comes from this series in an age of instant everything this work took time and patience to create
01:08:37 create it seems both old and new as a frozen in time yet very much of this time it has a haunting quality the art critic filmmaker and presenter
01:08:50 the art critic filmmaker and presenter Voldemort yanushek described khadijah's peace as quote standing out across the entire Venice biennale it was some of
01:09:01 entire Venice biennale it was some of the most moving work there he then called on Maria ballshaw the new director of the Tate to display her work thank you
01:09:13 thank you now whilst the Great and the good eulogized her it is perhaps from her community and friends for the most poignant memories come
01:09:22 come her friends at UCA were where she studied
01:09:26 studied were a tight-knit group of women who lived and created together some of them spoke to the guardian just days after the fire one of the group Lou Johnson said this
01:09:39 one of the group Lou Johnson said this Khadijah was one of the most remarkable people I have ever and probably will ever meet
01:09:45 ever meet she had the most infectious smile she touched so many lives and made such a wonderful and Lasting Impression I'm so proud of all she achieved and was
01:09:57 I'm so proud of all she achieved and was going to achieve I miss her so much and will forever have her in my thoughts her best friend was a fellow photographer Charlotte Levy she said
01:10:08 photographer Charlotte Levy she said this
01:10:10 this she was just the most incredible person she went through so much stuff but she always listened and was always there for you
01:10:18 you she was making such powerful work but still saying she didn't have a clue she was such a beautiful person she lit up the room hers was Art not born of pretension or
01:10:31 hers was Art not born of pretension or inaccessible it was quite the contrary
01:10:36 her mother was Mary Mendy Mary was a carer by profession and by Nature
01:10:46 Nature she was born on the 11th of June 1963 in The Gambia her niece Marion Telfer who is present and with us today gives a beautiful insight into Mary's
01:10:59 gives a beautiful insight into Mary's life before she arrived in the UK Mary was not Marion's biological mother but due to custody issues with her own parents
01:11:09 parents Marion was essentially brought up by Mary
01:11:14 when we lived in The Gambia says Marion she would always pick me up from school take me to work with her and take care of me like a mother Mary was a mother to me and my soul
01:11:25 Mary was a mother to me and my soul carer until I was 15. when I was nothing she was everything when I knew nothing she told me the world about my potential my aunt was the glue in my life
01:11:38 my aunt was the glue in my life she always mended every broken part of me since the day I was born she was my shield who protected me from the Every Storm
01:11:47 Storm she has been my strongest Defender and my protector my aunt trusted me to carry on with her wishes because she raised me to be strong she never show my pain or fear
01:11:59 strong she never show my pain or fear while the battle was still going on after the battle I can cry all I want Mary had visited the UK a number of
01:12:10 Mary had visited the UK a number of times in the 80s before moving her permanently in 1989. Mary would still send money and close back to the Gambia for young Marion and in 1992 sent for Marion to join her in
01:12:23 in 1992 sent for Marion to join her in London
01:12:24 London Marion was around nine years old and the family
01:12:28 family muhammadu Mary and baby Khadijah all lived together in a bed set in devere gardens in Kensington Mary brought up her daughters to be
01:12:40 Mary brought up her daughters to be independent educated and hard-working to never let their humble Origins limit or constrain the horizons to dream big
01:12:51 constrain the horizons to dream big at the commemoration hearing many members of the Mendy family spoke eloquently about marrying Khadijah amongst them was Clary Mendy another
01:13:02 amongst them was Clary Mendy another extraordinary gambian woman from this family
01:13:05 family she gave her heart and soul for the memory of her family but all the bereaved families residents and survivors of grenfell as we know Clary is no longer with us
01:13:20 as we know Clary is no longer with us her sister nelisha is here today her daughter Nina is watching remotely as all her brothers Ambrose and demel
01:13:31 I now turn to to Mary and khadijah's life inside death in grenfell Tower the family took up their tenancy
01:13:42 the family took up their tenancy of flat 173 on the 17th of January 1994. the tenancy was in Mary's Soul name
01:13:54 they were happy there children in the tower looked up to Khadijah they were proud of her to everyone she was simply known as Khadijah the artist her neighbors
01:14:07 Khadijah the artist her neighbors were proud of what she had achieved as one of their own was making good Melanie abana in her police statement describing the flats and Neighbors on the 20th floor wasn't sure of everyone's
01:14:20 the 20th floor wasn't sure of everyone's name say for flat one three seven three because Khadijah the artist lived there with her mother the lovely caring lady Mary Khadijah Marion were all happy
01:14:35 Mary Khadijah Marion were all happy moving forward to the 13th of June 2017 the last known sightings of Khadijah and Mary alive were as follows CCTV footage shows Khadijah in the lift
01:14:48 CCTV footage shows Khadijah in the lift lobby at around 2108 similar footage shows Mary Mendy in the lift lobby at 2306-53
01:15:02 we know from the testimony of others the conditions on the 20th floor by the time Petra deluva and her partner had left their flat 174 at approximately
01:15:16 had left their flat 174 at approximately 0137
01:15:19 0137 but as you've heard this morning conditions in the lobby blinded them so you may recall um from Jessica Albano's presentation the evidence of CM secret and
01:15:33 the evidence of CM secret and firefighters padillo and dogu who equally encountered limited visibility in the lobbies when they reached there at 0140.
01:15:44 at 0140. at 0143 Farah Hamden was telling the control room from her plat 175 that smoke was coming into their flat
01:15:55 smoke was coming into their flat but that her and her family could not leave because of the thick black smoke in the lobby sir you and the panel will hear more about pharah and her family this afternoon
01:16:11 having found no one on flat 176 cm secret Badillo and dogu in their unsuccessful rescue attempt for Jessica
01:16:24 unsuccessful rescue attempt for Jessica note that none of the firefighters refer to closing the front door of flat 176 on their way out as they made their way back to the lift Lobby
01:16:35 back to the lift Lobby they could not make contact with the Bridgehead and CM Secrets ba alarms had gone off so the crew left that floor without knocking on any other doors
01:16:48 knocking on any other doors at 01 57 15 the crew had returned to the ECB and closed down unbeknownst to those firefighters the
01:17:00 unbeknownst to those firefighters the rest of floor 20 was still very much occupied
01:17:06 there were no deployments to Khadijah and Mary's flat but we know that they were there we know the belkardi families were in flat 175
01:17:19 the belkardi families were in flat 175 and as we've just heard we know the occupants of 172 were also there all of them died
01:17:31 as you've heard also this morning sir from Mr freedom and queen's Council some occupants on that floor were able to self-evacuate including Emma O'Connor
01:17:44 self-evacuate including Emma O'Connor who has disabilities Luke Towner and Petra de Lova
01:17:53 it is important to remember the conditions on floor 20 when looking at the timeline for Khadijah and Mary by 0203 smoke could be seen emerging
01:18:06 by 0203 smoke could be seen emerging from Flats 174 and 175 on the 20th floor
01:18:15 sure and Mary did not make many 999 called but they did nonetheless have conversations and
01:18:27 nonetheless have conversations and Communications with the outside world via khadijah's entries and posting on Facebook
01:18:35 Facebook and because of that we have a real-time chronology of what went on Khadijah posted a message at 0149
01:18:46 Khadijah posted a message at 0149 indicating that she and her mother quote can't leave the flat there was fear and there was anxiety she goes on to say there's a fire in my
01:18:59 she goes on to say there's a fire in my Council block can't leave flat please pray for me and my mum
01:19:07 whilst Khadijah is posting these messages between 0 1 59 and 0 2 25. we know that firefighters Williams and
01:19:20 know that firefighters Williams and Fernandez were deployed to flat 20. floor 20 to assist the belkardi family we will hear more this afternoon
01:19:31 we will hear more this afternoon also while on floor 20 cm Eden and fire fighter Welsh say that they knocked on the doors of flats 171
01:19:42 the doors of flats 171 172 and 173 but got no answer
01:19:50 a photograph showing fsgs at 215 approximately includes flat 173 and it seems to indicate that Glenn
01:20:01 and it seems to indicate that Glenn Williams had started collating FSG calls around that time the lfb operational response report has the time at precisely 0.2 1628
01:20:15 the time at precisely 0.2 1628 the list under which flat 173 is recorded was the second list that was drawn up according to the evidence of Glenn Williams it is likely that this call was recorded
01:20:28 it is likely that this call was recorded sometime after he started writing the list but exactly what FSG information filtered through from documentation is unknown
01:20:38 unknown the absence of ba indicates No ba committed to the flat or their location
01:20:46 time that firefighters Welsh and CM Eden say they were knocking on doors including 173 Khadijah made a 999 call
01:20:57 including 173 Khadijah made a 999 call this is at 2 26 48. the call is taken by cro Russell I propose to read a part of the transcript Khadijah says smoke is coming in quite a
01:21:10 Khadijah says smoke is coming in quite a lot now I'm in my living room with my mum
01:21:14 mum cro Russell you've got two options if it's safer for you to stay or to try and get out question Khadijah I'm too high up to get out and
01:21:26 Khadijah I'm too high up to get out and when the doors open there's a lot of smoke
01:21:30 smoke cro Russell Block the gaps around the door keep as much smoke out as you can keep away from the window and doors we'll send you a mess we'll send a
01:21:41 we'll send you a mess we'll send a message to the crew it might take a little while but they're on their way keep away from the smoke call back if anything changes so what has happened here
01:21:53 so what has happened here in the smoke and confusion in the lobbies perhaps with no plans and being unfamiliar with the layout a firefighters knocked on Doors but why would Mary and Khadijah not hear
01:22:06 but why would Mary and Khadijah not hear them
01:22:07 them that would be their salvation we simply don't know Khadijah continues to write on her Facebook page it's now 0241 and she says
01:22:19 Facebook page it's now 0241 and she says still in my flat plea please pray I'm in grenfell Tower 20th floor
01:22:27 meanwhile the willsden crew of firefighters are on the 20th floor answering the FSG for flat 175 the belkardis
01:22:39 belkardis khadijah's friend who has been speaking to her on Facebook makes the first of his nine nine calls this is recorded at 0-250 19 and lasts
01:22:50 this is recorded at 0-250 19 and lasts for 39 seconds the call is taken by cro Jones khadijah's friend says my friend is stuck in grenfell Tower 20th floor flat
01:23:03 stuck in grenfell Tower 20th floor flat 173 she's asked me to call the fire brigade cro Jones the advice we are given at the moment I'm afraid is that everyone just tries and gets out
01:23:14 everyone just tries and gets out khadijah's friend goes back onto Facebook to tell Khadijah what has happened
01:23:22 he posts at 0255 the lady I spoke to on the 999 said the advice they are giving people is to try and get out
01:23:34 he makes a further call at 0.25651 this is taken by cro Adams she advises she Khadijah needs to leave the building
01:23:47 she Khadijah needs to leave the building if she possibly can she needs to cover herself get some water cover herself in a wet towel or a wet sheet anything and she needs to leave the building
01:23:59 she needs to leave the building Khadijah and her friend continue to post on Facebook at o257 her friend says hey are you okay I can see the fire from my window I
01:24:11 I can see the fire from my window I can't believe it please try and be safe I called again they said to cover yourself in a wet blanket and get some water and try and leave
01:24:22 water and try and leave at 0302 Khadijah tells him that she's really scared to leave did you tell her I'm high up I did I'm so sorry I can call again
01:24:34 I'm so sorry I can call again please I'm calling now what's happening in your flat they've asked is there the fire there in your flat wet towels wet sheets
01:24:45 at 0304 croson takes another 999 call from khadijah's friend he tells her my best friend is on
01:24:56 he tells her my best friend is on Facebook and she's stuck on the 20th floor
01:25:01 floor croson asks
01:25:05 him to ask the resident what is going on in the flat and while waiting for the answer cro housing asks a caller to pass on the advice to leave and they need to
01:25:16 on the advice to leave and they need to cover their faces with wet towels wet sheets and leave khadijah's friend confirms that he's passed on the information he also explains that there was smoke in
01:25:28 he also explains that there was smoke in the stairwell
01:25:31 there is no confirmation of which flat the resident was in he goes back onto Facebook to speak to Khadijah it's now five past three
01:25:42 Khadijah it's now five past three what's happening in your flat they've asked is there flyer in your flat no just lots of smoke but I can see the fire outside
01:25:53 but I can see the fire outside you need to leave if you can't see stay together go along the walls in the stairway if you feel you're safe in your flat she said that's your decision but
01:26:06 flat she said that's your decision but she said they're advising people to leave
01:26:09 leave it's just smoking the stairwell apparently there's no fire okay but they said cover your face with a wet sheet and towel okay so don't inhale
01:26:21 so don't inhale don't in hell I'm so sorry I'll keep trying I'll keep tweeting but they said there's just smoke in the stairwell not fire
01:26:29 fire but it will be dark so stay together and cover your face with wet sheets and blankets
01:26:36 blankets at 309
01:26:37 at 309 her friend posts again checking how to get out of burning building
01:26:43 building it seems that the friend is literally Googling how to get out of a burning building because he reads as follows check the door to your apartment if smoke is entering from around the door
01:26:54 smoke is entering from around the door do not open it protect yourself from smoke inside your apartment if there's no spoke brace yourself and open the door a little if you see smoke or feel heat close the door quickly and protect
01:27:06 heat close the door quickly and protect yourself if the corridor is clear take your keys lock the door and go to the nearest stairway there is a gap of about four minutes then shortly before o314
01:27:20 then shortly before o314 Marion Khadijah tried to leave the flat but could not because of the smoke khajija reports back on Facebook at 3 14. I tried to leave but the smoke
01:27:32 at 3 14. I tried to leave but the smoke is too strong her friend says can you not find a way to the stairwell Khadijah no it's black I took two steps and started to choke
01:27:43 and started to choke the friend makes a further 999 call at OS 3 17 and 18 seconds cro Russell takes the call
01:27:54 cro Russell takes the call ER my friend is in the building the call drops before connecting the operator relays a message to the control room that a female friend is stuck in the flat can't get out because smoke too
01:28:07 flat can't get out because smoke too thick they give control room and a mobile number for the caller cro Russell says we'll report call to the command unit
01:28:19 khadijah's friend phones again at 03 18. cro Russell picks up this call he tells cro Russell that his friend is inside with her mum and has been
01:28:31 inside with her mum and has been messaging him CR Russell tells him we are aware of this one and we've been speaking to her we're on our way up if she contacts you again tell her it's best the best bet is
01:28:43 again tell her it's best the best bet is to try and make her way out advice to use blankets Etc that's what we're telling everyone but she's saying she can't get through the smoke
01:28:54 khajija's friend goes back to Facebook it's now 3 18. where's your mum it's all over the news I'm sure they're trying to put the fire out
01:29:05 out can you see the fire engines out of the window
01:29:08 window Don't Panic honey 320 Khadijah my mum's here too her friend they did say on the phone to me that if you feel safe in your flat you
01:29:19 that if you feel safe in your flat you can stay there but they are advising people to leave the sooner you try and leave the better though obviously I'll keep tweeting and calling I'll and then Kijiji doesn't say any
01:29:32 I'll and then Kijiji doesn't say any more
01:29:33 more her friends ask wet blankets cover your face and use the walls to find the stairwell
01:29:39 stairwell he tells her there are 205 Fighters helping downstairs and there are 40 fire engines with you stay calm it's one it's on one side of the
01:29:51 it's one it's on one side of the building perhaps you can go to the other side where it's furthest away there then is a gap of some six minutes at 0327 Khadijah posts again just try to
01:30:03 at 0327 Khadijah posts again just try to leave again it's impossible I felt like I was going to faint her friend did you try getting down low and using the towels yes
01:30:15 and using the towels yes it's in my room I'm going to call 999 again they're saying the same thing
01:30:25 I'm praying for you Khadijah you do what you have to do to get safe please
01:30:32 please at 033 her friend post what's your number they're asking there's no response
01:30:43 there's no response he phoned 999 again at 033 once again cro Russell answers a call Paula my friend is stuck inside still
01:30:56 Paula my friend is stuck inside still cro Russell yeah we're aware of this one um it's on the board the crew knows caller they've tried to get out a few times but the smoke is so thick outside
01:31:09 times but the smoke is so thick outside it's coming into the flat now and they can't breathe and they feel like they're going to faint
01:31:18 faint Sierra Russell if you contact them again tell them if they can't get out the best bet is just to get out to cover their heads with a wet towel or blankets anything make sure
01:31:29 wet towel or blankets anything make sure their mouths and noses are covered and try to leave if they can't go to a room shut the door block all the gaps in the and close the windows
01:31:41 and close the windows khadijah's friend goes back onto Facebook page at 0334 Khadijah did someone reach you yet he gets no reply for some two minutes so
01:31:53 he gets no reply for some two minutes so he writes again they've said the same thing they said they're advising people to get out if possible so stay lower cover your mouth and nose and face with wet towels
01:32:05 and nose and face with wet towels but if you can't get out stay shut yourself in a room cover the door Etc keep the fire out and get as low on the floor as you can because smoke Rises and
01:32:17 floor as you can because smoke Rises and cover your face with wet towels still even if inside 0336 there's still no reply from Khadijah
01:32:26 Khadijah he writes again they are saying that the firemen are coming no reply
01:32:33 no reply 0351 Khadijah still hasn't posted on Facebook
01:32:38 Facebook I'm praying for all of you
01:32:45 0358 Khadijah hasn't posted reading this is making me cry her friend says I feel sick I hope she's okay
01:33:00 we know that Khadijah and Mary made those attempts to leave the flat and at one point they did manage to actually leave Mary and Khadijah entered the smokeville
01:33:13 Mary and Khadijah entered the smokeville lobby and made their way to the stairwell
01:33:16 stairwell once there they started their descent they made it down seven floors to floor 13.
01:33:26 13. that is where Mary's Journey ends Mary's body was found in the lobby area of the 13th floor at 0407
01:33:38 at 0407 a ba team of firefighters Cuthbert and sonson are ascending to the 10th floor as they ascend they find a body in the stairwell it's Khadijah
01:33:50 stairwell it's Khadijah she's passed away
01:33:55 his father woke up at 4am in the early hours of the 14th of June that was very uncharacteristic for him but he got out of bed he had a strange unsettling feeling that something wasn't right
01:34:07 feeling that something wasn't right he repeatedly called Khadijah but there was no response on her mobile so he decided to go to grenfell Tower he got there he saw the fire engines and the cordons but it was still not
01:34:19 the cordons but it was still not registering with him the scale of the disaster the whole block was in flames Mr say remained in the area the rest of the day until the afternoon trying to
01:34:31 the day until the afternoon trying to find out where his daughter was and where Mary was about 10 or 11 in the morning word had gone round that there were centers being
01:34:42 gone round that there were centers being set up so people could look for their relatives
01:34:46 he thinks they're about five and he started to visit them one by one but without success at Clements there were a list of people that were missing or had been found
01:34:57 that were missing or had been found khadijah's friends were also looking for her and had been going around trying to find them find her one of them had mistakenly put her name under the list of those who had been found
01:35:10 of those who had been found Mr say saw that he was told to wait and they would go and get Khadijah and Mary for him so he waited they came back without them
01:35:22 they came back without them someone then told him possibly they might be still in the hospital Mr save found Marion and together they split up looking at different hospitals
01:35:33 split up looking at different hospitals but they couldn't find Mary and they couldn't find Khadijah
01:35:38 finally he decided to register Mary and Khadija as missing with the police and went home and waited he waited the rest of that day
01:35:49 he waited the rest of that day and heard nothing the following day the police layers liaison office are called and came to see him at home he was told they had found Mary in
01:36:00 he was told they had found Mary in Khadijah but they had not survived
01:36:07 Swift reported on the 19th of June 2017. in respect to Mary's post-mortem he records a medical cause of death as
01:36:18 he records a medical cause of death as inhalation of fire fumes khadijah's postmortem was carried out by Dr Simon Paul he found the medical cause of death for Khadija say to be inhalations of fumes
01:36:36 so on their post-mortem both had a medical cause of death as recorded as 1A inhalation of fumes
01:36:48 concluding remarks
01:36:53 Mary Mendy continues to be a beacon and Guiding Light for Marion Telfer now a mother herself she encourages and Endeavors to instill in her own children
01:37:04 Endeavors to instill in her own children those invaluable lessons that she learned from Mary Mendy when she was a child resilience ambition kindness and love
01:37:16 love Khadijah say Arts was set up by inter-university a national charity which serves over 35 000 disadvantaged young people from
01:37:27 000 disadvantaged young people from across 31 local communities and Learning Centers working with children between the age of seven upwards and I quote opening young people's minds to the
01:37:39 opening young people's minds to the power of education and the Arts her work
01:37:44 her work in this space we breathe was also exhibited at the British library from the end of last year for muhammadu say and the rest of the
01:37:55 for muhammadu say and the rest of the extended family they are left asking the same question all of the grenfell families ask why Mary she was a good woman she was a
01:38:08 Mary she was a good woman she was a carer she was someone who made her community and Society a better place and why Khadijah with the biennale exhibition in 2017 Khadijah had arrived
01:38:21 exhibition in 2017 Khadijah had arrived only to cruelly depart this world on the 14th of June the same year her star Sean dazzlingly bright but for all too short a time before it
01:38:34 all too short a time before it disappeared forever
01:38:37 sir panel I'd like to end where I began with khadijah's words she wrote her own notes to accompany her exhibition dwelling in this space we
01:38:49 exhibition dwelling in this space we breathe
01:38:50 breathe her words now seem remarkably prescient as if written for that dwelling she once called home grenfell but which ultimately she could not breathe in
01:39:03 ultimately she could not breathe in I commend her words to the grenfell community to the bereaved families and those left to mourn Khadijah said this
01:39:15 this series was created from a personal need for Spiritual grounding After experiencing trauma the search for which gives meaning to
01:39:27 the search for which gives meaning to our lives and what we hold on to in times of Despair and life-changing challenges thank you sir
01:39:54 well thank you very much Mr Monroe now we have one more presentation to receive today but in order to enable members of the family to be present we're going to
01:40:06 family to be present we're going to adjourn now and resume at half past three this afternoon so at that point we shall rise and as I say we should resume these at half past
01:40:17 say we should resume these at half past three thank you very much