Presentations for deceased residents: Steve Power (63, Flat 122, floor 15) and Fatia Ahmed Elsi, Abu Fras Ibrahim, and Isra Ibrahim (Flat 206, floor 23). Details mobility impairments, rescue attempts, and the circumstances of their deaths.
00:00:27 yes Mr a minute yes thank you Mr chairman um I would now ask ask Mr Danny Freeman Queen's Council please to come back to the podium to make the presentation on behalf of the family of Steve power from Flat 1 to2 on floor 15
00:00:41 Steve power from Flat 1 to2 on floor 15 of Grell Tower as again I would repeat the trigger warning that what Mr freman is about to tell us or show us may be distressing to those either in this room or listening and therefore um if they
00:00:52 or listening and therefore um if they wish to they should um remove themselves from the room now or look away from the live stream as the case may be subject to that Mr Freeman thank you very much yes thank you
00:01:16 Mr Steve power was born on the 18th of August
00:01:21 August 1953 he was 63 years old at the time of his death he lived in flat 122 of grenfell Tower on what became floor 15
00:01:32 grenfell Tower on what became floor 15 following the refurbishment Steve first moved into grenfell in 1985 making him one of the longest standing residents of the tower his
00:01:43 standing residents of the tower his family originated from Waterford in Ireland but he was born in London he was a retired driver and DJ Steve is survived by his five children Craig power Sher power Wayne
00:01:57 children Craig power Sher power Wayne power Davis Bobby Ross and Rebecca Ross at the time of the fire Steve lived in flat 122 with his daughter Rebecca Ross and his son Bobby
00:02:08 daughter Rebecca Ross and his son Bobby Ross both Rebecca and Bobby had grown up in greenfeld Tower Steve also had three staffer B Terriers Stevie Diva and Jess
00:02:19 staffer B Terriers Stevie Diva and Jess who he considered to be part of the family his dogs died with him in the
00:02:27 fire Steve power's children and his former partner Claudia Davis appeared at the commemoration hearing on the 25th of May
00:02:36 May 2018 there words highlighted that as a father resident and friend Steve was a powerful personality he was loved by everyone and was a strong member of the
00:02:48 everyone and was a strong member of the community they said he was one of the biggest voices in the room and a man of the people especially the neighbors and residents of Grenville they described how he combined his his white Irish
00:03:01 how he combined his his white Irish heritage with the love of Reggae and black British culture he loved and appreciated an Electic and Electic range of music and was immersed in music culture they told us that growing up in
00:03:14 culture they told us that growing up in their house it was always filled with Good Vibes and people who would often come over to listen to music eat home-cooked food and have fun Steve was
00:03:25 home-cooked food and have fun Steve was high on
00:03:26 high on life his other passion was fishing he would off and go to the nearby Canal he would take his children with him and would insist on bringing a hot flask of his favorite tea
00:03:38 his favorite tea tley Steve had lived in grenfell Tower for over 30 years and couldn't have imagined living anywhere else he thought of his flat as his Penthouse Rebecca and
00:03:49 of his flat as his Penthouse Rebecca and Bobby described their father as a true role model resident who put himself in service to others he would never just do things for himself he left an impact
00:04:00 things for himself he left an impact on whoever he spoke to no matter how long he knew them and would always try to pass on knowledge or help others in need they remember a campaigner
00:04:11 need they remember a campaigner especially fighting to stop closure of local Services whether a nearby dog park or a Muslim prayer Hall these are just two of so many examples Steve was an integral part of
00:04:23 examples Steve was an integral part of the north Kensington life he embodied its spirit in memory of Steve and to honor his commitment to supporting people from all backgrounds abilities
00:04:34 people from all backgrounds abilities and capabilities Bobby and his partner Nadia have now founded our power hub and they wear the t-shirts here today it's a
00:04:45 they wear the t-shirts here today it's a community-based organization with the objective of empowering individual and Community decision making in bobb's words my dad stood up for what he believed he stood for the underdog he
00:04:58 believed he stood for the underdog he stood for our Community
00:05:04 rights Steve suffered from a number of physical health conditions he had long-term empyema which Rebecca described as worsening during the course of the
00:05:15 during the course of the refurbishment he suffered from attacks of coughing these were much more frequent in the last year prior to the fire to the point where he was admitted to hospital on a number of occasions and
00:05:26 to hospital on a number of occasions and placed on a nebulizer his empa impacted on his breathing and mobility and he had difficulty using the stairs this left him substantially reliant on the
00:05:38 him substantially reliant on the lifts although there is no reference to this in Steve's housing file Rebecca's evidence is that she believed Steve would have drawn this to the tmo's attention when complaining about the lift breaking down which effectively
00:05:50 lift breaking down which effectively prevented him from returning to his home on floor
00:05:53 on floor 15 in
00:05:55 15 in 2016 Steve was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had undergo treatment rbkc and the TMO were aware of this diagnosis having received requests to make urgent
00:06:07 having received requests to make urgent repairs to Steve's toilet from his treating medical professionals and the north Kensington Law Center on the 2nd and 15th of March in particular the letter of the 15th of March 2016 from
00:06:20 letter of the 15th of March 2016 from North Kensington Law Center addressed to the TMO Drew attention to this area of vulnerability in the context of significant delays making these essential
00:06:30 essential repairs the family invited the panel to consider this letter for the light It cast and what was known by the TMO of this area of Steve's vulnerability the reference is
00:06:42 tm31 18437 when he was still recovering from the cancer the flap was left without a functioning toilet until its repair date in due
00:06:54 in due 2016 a proud strong man was becoming much less secure in his his well-being going into 2017 and as with other residents at
00:07:05 2017 and as with other residents at grenfell there were no Arrangements in place to address Steve's difficulties distending the single stairs in the event of an emergency need to do so such as a personal emergency evacuation plan
00:07:16 as a personal emergency evacuation plan nor were there any pre-existing Communications or arrangements with the lfb to secure his assisted evacuation or rescue the record suggest that the lfb
00:07:28 rescue the record suggest that the lfb undertook at least leas two home safety fire visits to sees flat on the 13th of August
00:07:35 August 2014 and on the 10th of June 2017 again as with vent chenia this morning 4 days before the fire the scope
00:07:46 morning 4 days before the fire the scope and the purpose of home visits has been considered in modules 5 and 6A of phase 2 for present purposes it is relevant to note that there is no evidence that
00:07:58 note that there is no evidence that these visits were informed by the information known by rbkc and the TMO about Steve's vulnerability the visits did not identify the absence of a dedicated evacuation plan for Steve the
00:08:10 dedicated evacuation plan for Steve the family would again invite the panel to consider the content of the record of these visits alongside accompanying guidance notes for themselves the references are lfb 30
00:08:24 references are lfb 30 32606 and lfb 5241
00:08:30 can I turn then to the 13th of June
00:08:35 2017 CCTV footage at 1902 shows Steve power with his three dogs arriving in the lift lobby at grenfell Tower for the last
00:08:45 last time the phase 1 report found at Volume 2 paragraphs 10116 to 117 that the rate at which the flam spread externally up the northeast
00:08:56 flam spread externally up the northeast corner of the building accelerated considerably in in the period before the fire reached floor 15 it had reached the top of floor 15 by 01 12336 traveling at a speed of 0.75
00:09:10 12336 traveling at a speed of 0.75 floors per minute the tenant to Flat 126 Aiza reani on floor 15 exited the building at 02142 this was likely in response to the
00:09:22 02142 this was likely in response to the effects of the rapidly approaching fire which would have broken into flat 126 very shortly thereafter
00:09:32 Aiza Rani identifi that the FL front door to Flat 126 which was instored very shortly before the fire did not close properly such that she had to lock it in order for it to stay closed it is not
00:09:45 order for it to stay closed it is not clear from the available evidence if the door was locked in this way when she self- evacuated on the night of the fire however the newly replaced flat front door also had a gap between the door and
00:09:56 door also had a gap between the door and the frame at the bottom AA members this because before the fire she would often have to block the door with a towel to prevent cold draft in the Gap that was
00:10:07 prevent cold draft in the Gap that was permitting It Whatever the cause it is apparent that the conditions in the floor 15 Lobby deteriorated rapidly after the fire reached flat 126 for example before he went up to
00:10:20 126 for example before he went up to floor 20 to try to help Jessica aano Ramirez firefighter Badillo first used the lift in a journey that he took without ba equipment when the lift
00:10:31 without ba equipment when the lift stopped unexpectedly at floor 15 after 0127 the lift door open opened and immediately filled with thick black smoke from the
00:10:42 smoke from the lobby R dedri Who exited the building at 03335 having left flat 123 described dense black smoke in the lobby of floor 15 and was struck by how conditions had
00:10:54 15 and was struck by how conditions had changed in the space of a few minutes sidal sidali Al alamani from Flat 125 who exited at 01
00:11:05 who exited at 01 3538 described his navigation of the floor lobby as severely impeded by the buildup of
00:11:13 smoke between 0119 and 0136 the majority of the residents of floor 15 evacuated the building the only remaining residents on the floor was Steve power
00:11:24 residents on the floor was Steve power and Rebecca Ross in flat 122 and Christos faban in flat 124 Rebecca Ross has provided an
00:11:35 124 Rebecca Ross has provided an invaluably detailed account of what occurred in the flat Steve woke up Rebecca to tell her about the fire she checked her phone at the time and therefore we know that this
00:11:46 the time and therefore we know that this happened at 0130 up until 2:00 there was no smoke in flat 122 at some point Rebecca opened the front door and there was fixed smoke
00:11:57 the front door and there was fixed smoke in the lobby she closed the door door family and friends at the fire ground talked to the police and firefighters and successfully registered the situation of two people trapped in
00:12:09 the situation of two people trapped in flat 1112 122 can I show the panel various places where that registration occurred and in doing so may I give a trigger warning we are going to see the
00:12:21 trigger warning we are going to see the various boards and walls that show flat numbers and numbers of persons but no other images
00:12:31 can I start with me 301
00:12:40 15930 at some point you have flat one22 two persons written on this flip chart in command Unit 8 that was then taken
00:12:52 in command Unit 8 that was then taken over into command unit 7 you see the entry 122 152 two persons about nine down nine entries down from the
00:13:04 down nine entries down from the top so that's command Unit 8 may I then go to me 30
00:13:21 15819 while the bridge head was still on floor three so before 0308 when that base moved to the ground floor samon
00:13:32 base moved to the ground floor samon wrote
00:13:34 wrote 122 firing kitchen you see it in line with 15 there's entries for what looks like 11 11 112 112 113 which should have been
00:13:49 11 11 112 112 113 which should have been for floor 14 and then you see 1 122 fir in the kitchen and then one two2 underlined with a circle
00:13:59 fire in the kitchen is something that firefighters may have learned from Rebecca Ross when she escaped and I'll come back to that
00:14:09 panel next entry to look at is me 30
00:14:20 15636 this is Now command unit 7
00:14:29 and you see going down to 122 the presence of two persons in flat one22 reflected on the cu7
00:14:42 one22 reflected on the cu7 Whiteboard and the time stamp for this is after entries were filled in at 3:00
00:14:51 a.m. and then please me
00:14:56 me 30's 13089
00:15:02 looking at the left hand side these are notes made by firefighter sing one of the runners from the command unit 7 to the bridge head and he's noted
00:15:13 unit 7 to the bridge head and he's noted some fire survival guidance information on a piece of paper in his notebook and it shows Glenn Williams That's watch manager Williams who operated the entry clearance rule rall on the ground floor
00:15:26 clearance rule rall on the ground floor of the Tower from about 0315 and it then reads 15th floor 1 22 * 2 people time two dogs in fact we know
00:15:37 people time two dogs in fact we know there were three dogs but
00:15:41 dogs but overall Steve Rebecca and dogs were therefore known about through the family's efforts during what must have been a terrifying experience at the fire
00:15:53 been a terrifying experience at the fire ground and that's why we show you that sequence we can take it down please
00:16:01 just on that fire fighter sing notice or notebook The Phase 1 report found at volume 4 paragraph 28.8 6 C that the piece of paper held by
00:16:15 28.8 6 C that the piece of paper held by firefighter sing was not seen by watch manager Williams and the information was not added to the wall on the ground floor
00:16:25 floor Lobby can we finally bring up that ground floor wall at me
00:16:33 me 301
00:16:39 15815 there are two references first of all on the left hand side as you look at it towards the
00:16:50 side as you look at it towards the top one two2 15 and question mark we think 122 15 and question mark
00:17:00 and then if you go into the middle column towards the bottom it says ba
00:17:10 ba 122 and then smoke log and you'll notice there's no tick by the ba as there is with some ba would be breathing apparatus no tick as you see
00:17:22 breathing apparatus no tick as you see with other floors and flats on that image thank you
00:17:35 firefighters Mills and cample tallied out in standard duration ba equipment at 05156 with a brief to reach the bardi family in flat 1 175 on floor
00:17:49 family in flat 1 175 on floor 20 by the time they reached floor 15 their Gorges were on o 150 and 160 bar respectively firefighter Mills record banging on doors on floor 15 though
00:18:01 banging on doors on floor 15 though firefighter Campbell suggested that this was on floor 9ine Rebecca Ross did not hear any banging although it may be that kristos fair band who remained in flat 124
00:18:12 fair band who remained in flat 124 did these were the only firefighters known to have gone to the floor prior to Rebecca's
00:18:21 Escape Rebecca took calls from her friend yonni at 2: a.m and then from her brother Wayne power Davis at 0222 in a call which lasted 8 minutes
00:18:32 0222 in a call which lasted 8 minutes and 15 seconds this is an important call around the time that the conversation began the conditions in the flat were significantly worsening and a black cow of smoke came into the Pres
00:18:45 black cow of smoke came into the Pres premises causing the smoke alarm to go off Rebecca thought the smoke came from the lobby that may have been the case but Professor perser considers that it was likely smoke entering from the
00:18:56 was likely smoke entering from the kitchen window which he links to the exerior fire spread outside at around that
00:19:02 that time clearly the situation in the flat was becoming perilous and it was at this point that Steve power told his daughter now it's time to go he went to his bedroom to put on his
00:19:14 go he went to his bedroom to put on his shoes and they began to make preparations to leave he asked Rebecca for the dog leads and she F fetched them for him she also wetted and gave him a
00:19:25 for him she also wetted and gave him a towel Rebecca describes the buildup of smoke that was now causing her to extensively cough Maya read from her statement at iws 4's 1036 page 13
00:19:40 statement at iws 4's 1036 page 13 paragraph 32 in Rebecca's words the pain in my chest became unbearable it felt like someone was stabbing me in and out of my lungs after that it felt like I
00:19:52 of my lungs after that it felt like I had a bag over my head and I couldn't get any air my dad walked over to his window to get some air air and he sat back down on the bed Rebecca saw her father moving very
00:20:05 bed Rebecca saw her father moving very slowly as if there was no urgency or he was trying to calm himself to get control of his body the bed that he sat on was in the bedroom nearest to the
00:20:17 on was in the bedroom nearest to the flat entrance and this was the same place where his bodies body remains were found it is likely that the deteriorating conditions in the flat
00:20:28 deteriorating conditions in the flat were sign iFly affecting Steve power at this time especially so given his empa if the smoke was affecting Rebecca in the way she describes stabbing stabbing
00:20:39 the way she describes stabbing stabbing me in and out of my lung it would have been far worse for Steve however what Rebecca and others did not know but the post Morton evidence would show is that Steve power
00:20:52 evidence would show is that Steve power also had significant heart disease known as coronary artery eoma his arteries were blocked in a way that restricted the flow of blood to the heart this
00:21:03 the flow of blood to the heart this would have rendered him additionally susceptible to the effects of carbon monoxide during the call with her brother Wayne he implored Rebecca to
00:21:14 brother Wayne he implored Rebecca to leave telling her that if she didn't leave now she was going to die Rebecca began to walk slowly towards the front door and as she did so she
00:21:25 the front door and as she did so she remained on the phone to Wayne she would see flames from next door about to enter the kitchen she said that when she opened the front door her eyes began to Sting from smoke and she could barely
00:21:37 Sting from smoke and she could barely see anything she hesitated before continuing into the corridor she felt her way along the wall in the lobby to the staircase which was just opposite the flat one 122
00:21:49 just opposite the flat one 122 door using her elbows and feet to feel where the wall was and her back or oel to push open the door to the stair she made her way onto the staircase with
00:22:01 she made her way onto the staircase with some difficulty about two floors down she felt like she was losing Consciousness Rebecca was found on the brink of collapse in the vicinity of
00:22:12 brink of collapse in the vicinity of floor 10 by firefighters DWI and Perez who were tallied out at 0239 53 and were tasked to go to Flat 7 floor on floor 10
00:22:24 tasked to go to Flat 7 floor on floor 10 the body camera of firefighter perz caught Rebecca's photo image at approximately 0 24713 between floors 10 and 11 it can be
00:22:35 24713 between floors 10 and 11 it can be seen in the lfb operational response report at lfb 30 32988 page 232 to
00:22:49 233 realizing that Steve was not behind her Rebecca immediately told firefighters that her father was still in flat one 22 on floor 15 and trapped
00:23:01 in flat one 22 on floor 15 and trapped inside she made it clear that the door was open and had a picture of a dog on the front of it firefighter DWI relayed on his radio to entry control that a man
00:23:12 on his radio to entry control that a man remained trapped in flat 122 this likely led to one 122 fire in kitchen being written on the floor free wall while the bridge head was still
00:23:23 wall while the bridge head was still located there and we suggest that as the threat of flames from next door about to enter the kitchen is the last matter that Rebecca was aware of before she
00:23:35 that Rebecca was aware of before she left the
00:23:37 left the flat Rebecca can be seen on the lobby CCTV footage at o 25426 escorted by firefighter ohanlan who then accompanied accompanied her out
00:23:49 who then accompanied accompanied her out of the
00:23:50 of the building once outside Rebecca asked where her father was and told firefighters that she had been promised that someone was going to get him to make sure that happened she gave these
00:24:03 make sure that happened she gave these new firefighters his floor and flat number and they again said they would send someone to get Steve for the rest of the night Wayne and Bobby and Rebecca continued to ask after their father and
00:24:14 continued to ask after their father and to remind firefighters that he was still in the
00:24:18 in the building firefighters Whitely and nut talled out at 0244 32 but on their own account only left the floor- free bridge head with their
00:24:29 the floor- free bridge head with their instructions to go to Flat 122 at approximately 0256 as with firefighters Mills and Campbell these firefighters had to abort
00:24:40 Campbell these firefighters had to abort the mission because their standard duration breathing apparatus sets were not sufficient to make the journey without jeopardizing their own safety at 3:00 a.m. Christos faban in
00:24:52 safety at 3:00 a.m. Christos faban in flat 124 the only other remaining occupant on the floor made a first call to the emergency Services no deployment was made to floor 15 in response firefighters Whitely and
00:25:05 response firefighters Whitely and nuttles ba end of we times were respectively of 103 and O 1049 by the time that they returned to the bottom of the tower the bridge head
00:25:16 the bottom of the tower the bridge head had moved to the lobby firefighter nuttle recall trying to tell watch manager Williams that they had not reached flat 122 but he was too busy to take the information
00:25:28 busy to take the information the crew then left the building and firefighter nuttle tried again to pass the information to a crew manager standing by some garages near to the front of the tower he too would not take
00:25:39 front of the tower he too would not take the
00:25:40 the information finally firefighter Nutter was able to give details about floor 15 to a watch manager who told him that he would deal with it whether that was done or not there is no evidence of any
00:25:51 or not there is no evidence of any firefighter being specifically deployed to the floor for the rest of the night on that issue Christos faban made five further emergency calls between
00:26:04 further emergency calls between 03520 and 033 347 these calls did not produce a dedicated deployment to his flat or the floor where he and Steve power remained
00:26:16 floor where he and Steve power remained kristof's fairb band self evacuated at 0354 this is a point or a period in time when others escaped from floors 16 18 21
00:26:29 when others escaped from floors 16 18 21 and 22 of the tower as the phase 1 report found at volume 4 paragraph 254 and is now reinforced by The Phase 2 evidence of
00:26:40 reinforced by The Phase 2 evidence of Professor perser although conditions in the building worsened after 220 there was never a point when the stairs were impassible however Professor perser has
00:26:52 impassible however Professor perser has offered the assessment that due to his pre-existing health conditions Steve power would have been likely to have experienced considerable difficulties in descending the stairs if he had attempted to evacuate with his daughter
00:27:04 attempted to evacuate with his daughter and the risks increased rapidly for every minute he remained in the flat especially after the fire reached the exterior of the flat Rebecca's description of her father resting on the
00:27:15 description of her father resting on the bed before she left the flat before 0247 is indicative of him finding any form of Mobility to be a real challenge by that
00:27:25 by that time Professor perser added in his allal evidence that persons with Mobility impairment whose speed of evacuation down the stairs was slowed had reduced prospects of escaped due to the greater
00:27:37 prospects of escaped due to the greater period of exposure in those stairwell conditions that they would have to face indeed given his Mobility impairment is far from clear that Steve
00:27:48 impairment is far from clear that Steve would have been able to descend the stairs at an earlier stage even with the assistance of his daughter and especially so once the stairs became so significantly spoke locked
00:27:59 significantly spoke locked as in all other such cases of residents with Mobility impairments this calls attention to the status of the gfell lifts as identified in the phase one report the the lifts had not been
00:28:11 report the the lifts had not been upgraded so as to render them potentially suitable for evacuation purposes findings regarding the causation and circumstances of the status and function of the lifs have
00:28:22 status and function of the lifs have been the subject of submissions to the panel in other modules
00:28:30 before Steve's remains were discovered the aftermath of the fire was particularly harrowing for his children Bobby Ross recalls looking for his dad with his brother Wayne in the area
00:28:41 with his brother Wayne in the area around the tower in the 48 Hours following the fire just searching and asking questions he says we were hoping that maybe he had just got lost in the
00:28:52 that maybe he had just got lost in the crowd no one was telling us anything at this point he and the family were terrified about what might have happened to their dad at the same time Rebecca
00:29:03 to their dad at the same time Rebecca had been hospitalized while still particularly unwell she was visited on the 16th of June by the police who asked her for details about Steve to whom they referred to as a missing person with the
00:29:16 referred to as a missing person with the passage of each day even with increasing despair the family still held out hope that Steve was alive they were eventually told on the 22nd of June that he had died in the fight
00:29:33 archaeological investigation recovered Steve power's remains from the bedroom nearest the flat entrance where Rebecca last saw him sitting on the bed he was
00:29:44 last saw him sitting on the bed he was lying on the pieces and parts of what had been the mattress in close association with those findings were the remains of two of his dogs the third was very nearby in the
00:29:56 dogs the third was very nearby in the same room from everything the family has told us about Steve's love for his dogs Stevie devie and Jess it means that Steve power did not die
00:30:10 alone as Professor perer explained in his report the fire came around the bedroom window of flat 122 at around 0312 by this time Steve would have been
00:30:22 0312 by this time Steve would have been already unconscious from the conditions in the
00:30:25 in the flat this is supported by postmortem evidence of a significant coronary artery blockage and Decay which would have rendered him more susceptible to drowsiness unconsciousness and death
00:30:36 drowsiness unconsciousness and death than a healthy person as already mentioned Rebecca described her father exhibiting such presentation when she saw him sit on the bed for the last time Professor pers made a rough estimate of
00:30:47 Professor pers made a rough estimate of the likely time of death of Ste power in his oral evidence giving this as anywhere between 0315 and before around 4 a.m.
00:30:58 4 a.m. in the postmortem report of the 25th of September
00:31:02 September 2017 Steve power's medical cause of death was given as 1A inhalation of products of combustion and two coronary artery eoma the medical cause of death
00:31:15 artery eoma the medical cause of death is of course supported by the phase 2 evidence of Professor
00:31:23 perser we want to end by paying tribute to Steve Po's family family when you see them read what they say or analyze how they have dealt with
00:31:34 say or analyze how they have dealt with this trauma their strength and courage leaves a lasting impression Steve Sons Bobby and Wayne on the outside of the tower while they
00:31:45 the outside of the tower while they watched it burn managed against the odds to register that Steve Rebecca and the dogs were trapped above likewise they did everything they could to urge their father and sister to get out the call
00:31:58 father and sister to get out the call from Wayne was critical to securing Rebecca's
00:32:03 Rebecca's life Rebecca like her father is a brave soul her Vivid statement of what happened should be read again by the panel because it tells so much of what
00:32:15 panel because it tells so much of what it was like to be in the fire her commitment to assisting you and us to understand that reality has been given despite what must have been a great cost in going through the effort
00:32:28 great cost in going through the effort to provide that degree of detail her account is a testament to her and the events that she and others went through the father's Legacy lives on in
00:32:41 through the father's Legacy lives on in all the many ways his family honor his life and memory they speak their truth about what happened to him and campaign for justice on his behalf and behalf of
00:32:52 for justice on his behalf and behalf of the community that he loved Steve power was a force of nature he has left a great deal of that force
00:33:03 behind thank you thank you Mr
00:33:23 fre thank you very much now you'd like a break at this point I imagine yeah may I ask for half an hour please yes we'll rise in and sit again at 10 3 thank you very
00:33:56 much
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01:04:42 yes Mr vet yes Mr chairman I would now invite Mr Danny Freedman QC please to come back to the podium and make the presentation on behalf of fatia Ahmed
01:04:54 presentation on behalf of fatia Ahmed elsi Abu fras Muhammad ibraim and isra ibraim from Flat 206 on floor 23 of grenfell Tower and as before
01:05:06 floor 23 of grenfell Tower and as before I would repeat the trigger warning that during the course of this presentation there may be matters shown or discussed which may be distressing to those listening either in this room or on the live stream and and if so then those
01:05:17 live stream and and if so then those either here or listening should absent themselves from this room or look away from the live stream as the case may be Mr thank you very much yes Mr freedan
01:05:31 FAA Ali Ahmed alusi was born in annaud West kfon Province in Sudan on the 1st of January
01:05:42 the 1st of January 1940 she was 77 years old at the time of her
01:05:46 her death Mrs Eleni had five children two daughters and three sons they were Abu fras ibraim Abu Baka
01:05:58 sons they were Abu fras ibraim Abu Baka ibraim and isra ibraim and then her oldest son was gasin ibraim and her oldest daughter was Aon Ibrahim fatia came to England in
01:06:12 Ibrahim fatia came to England in 1992 with the three younger children Abu fras Abu Baka and isra whilst her oldest gim and Aon went to Romania to study
01:06:23 gim and Aon went to Romania to study fatia was a retired School teach feature she lived in flat 206 grenfell Tower together with her daughter isra both of them were tenants of nottinghill Housing
01:06:34 them were tenants of nottinghill Housing Trust their tency commenced in
01:06:39 2008 Abu fras mahamed Ibrahim was born in Kum Sudan on the 8th of January 1978 he's he was 39 years old at the
01:06:50 1978 he's he was 39 years old at the time of his death he was in business with his brother Abu Baka running a fishmonger the brothers lived together in Queensgate in Southwest London he was visiting his mother and sister on the
01:07:02 visiting his mother and sister on the night of the fire as he would often do the family were close and frequently gathered
01:07:09 gathered together isra ibraim was born in Kum Sudan on the 8th of August 1983 she was 33 years old when she died
01:07:20 1983 she was 33 years old when she died she worked as a care worker for the elderly and as a sales assistant she was the second tenant at flat 206 for some of the health difficulties her mother faced that I will come to isra Ibrahim
01:07:33 faced that I will come to isra Ibrahim acted as her mother's carer the inquiry heard commemorations on behalf of fatia Abu fras and isra over three days in May
01:07:45 over three days in May 2018 wafa Osman read a statement on behalf of faa's younger sister hayat Eleni and added some words herself Abu baka Ibrahim fatias ahmed's son and Abu
01:07:58 baka Ibrahim fatias ahmed's son and Abu fras and isra's brother shared his Recollections of their lives together you also heard from SED Issa oi fatia Eleni moved with her children
01:08:11 oi fatia Eleni moved with her children to the United Kingdom from Sudan in the 1990s following her husband's death he had been a military officer and a member of the government he was killed in
01:08:22 of the government he was killed in suspicious circumstances seeking to serve his country the family fled for their own safety and protection you heard what A loving and caring mother thata was to her own
01:08:35 caring mother thata was to her own children her younger sister hayatt who had suffered injuries in a fire as a child had F memories of her relationship with her sister and for hayatt thata remained an important part of her
01:08:47 remained an important part of her life thata was an educator rising to the position of head mistress in Sudan and went on to establish a successful supplementary School in Kensington and Chelsea she became a pillar of the
01:08:59 Chelsea she became a pillar of the Sudanese community in London helping to maintain and preserve sudin culture she was also a fantastic cook and host her son recalled the tin of quality street
01:09:10 son recalled the tin of quality street she always had to hand when he visited but most of all she shephered her children in a new country without their father and helped them to make their lives
01:09:20 lives here Abel fras or fras as he was known came across cross as a tough man like his father but he had an extremely soft Center he cared very deeply about his
01:09:32 Center he cared very deeply about his family and after their father's death he played the Father Figure role his brother Abu Baka recalled a time that as a grown man he stayed overnight at fr's home due to being unwell and woke in the
01:09:45 home due to being unwell and woke in the night to find frash sitting awake watching over him as he slept these two brothers work to create a quality fishmongers in gillesby Road in Islington
01:09:56 in Islington which is where they were working when Abu fras died their mother was proud that the two sons had created and were growing a family business isra ibraim was the little
01:10:08 business isra ibraim was the little sister to Abu fras and Abu Baka she was remembered as an especially compassionate person she had a strong faith and loved helping others who were in need this was reflected in the line
01:10:20 in need this was reflected in the line of work she chose including a position at St Charles Hospital caring for the elderly isra isra herself was very fit and healthy and enjoyed the outdoors she
01:10:31 and healthy and enjoyed the outdoors she loved food especially Sudanese food both isra and Abu fras were strong able-bodied adults who fall into the category of those children who stayed
01:10:43 category of those children who stayed with their more vulnerable loved ones when they could have saved
01:10:49 themselves at 77 years old at the time of the fire fatia aleni suffered from significant physical health problems from 2000 her housing file documented
01:11:01 from 2000 her housing file documented breathing problems that required her to use a portable oxygen machine in 2006 she suffered a stroke which impaired her Mobility her Mobility challenges were
01:11:13 Mobility her Mobility challenges were initially documented in mid 2006 by January 2007 she had identify that she was unable to easily manage any flight of
01:11:23 of stairs as in all other such cases there were no Arrangements in place such as a personal emergency evacuation plan to assist that year to evacuate the building in the event of a need to do so
01:11:36 building in the event of a need to do so in response to Fire and nor were there any pre-arrangements in place with the lfb for assisted evacuation or
01:11:46 rescue CCTV footage shows fatia elsi entering the lift Lobby of grenfell tower at 8:30 13 a.m. on the 9th of June
01:11:58 tower at 8:30 13 a.m. on the 9th of June 2017 there is no discovered footage of her after that date CCT footage on the 13th of June at 1655 p.m. shows isra ibraim in the lift
01:12:11 1655 p.m. shows isra ibraim in the lift Lobby of grenfell tower waiting to go up into the building Abu fras is captured arriving at the building at 2313 shortly before the
01:12:23 2313 shortly before the fire and now is of the footage of external fire spread on the Flat 6 column shows that the fire reached floor 23 as early as 0126 indeed as you heard in the first
01:12:35 0126 indeed as you heard in the first two weeks of these presentations the fire spread was sufficiently rapid for its effects to be noticed by the occupants of the top floor much earlier Fahad ner a flat 205 called the TMO out
01:12:48 Fahad ner a flat 205 called the TMO out of ours engineer at 0110 and referred to an electric burning smell short after the call with the smell getting stronger the Nita family went onto the landing
01:13:01 the Nita family went onto the landing they saw thaa and her daughter isra who had exited flat 206 in a state of panic from all that is known about the speed of the fire spread that must have been
01:13:12 of the fire spread that must have been because some part of their kitchen had already caught a light Israel was seen to run down the stairs her mother walked after her soon after at around 0130 some
01:13:24 after her soon after at around 0130 some resident of the lower floors began to appear on the top floor with them were fatia and isra although there is no direct evidence as to why they did not continue down the stairs it is likely
01:13:37 continue down the stairs it is likely that they turned back as a result of seeing numerous occupants coming up in their path we have addressed you on the circumstances of this upward migration on a number of occasions but especially
01:13:49 on a number of occasions but especially in the presentation for Debbie lampol on the morning of the 6th of July and the reference is day 300 Page 4 line 12 to page 10 line
01:14:00 page 10 line 3 the movement of occupants can be approximately timed by reference to the call that Mariam El guari made to the control room at 0130 once inside flat
01:14:12 control room at 0130 once inside flat 205 she told the operator that her kitchen was on fire in flat 196 and that she had gone to Flat 205 on the top
01:14:23 floor with their own flat on fire it is known that thaa isra and abas sought shelter in flat 203 the home of R ibraim
01:14:34 shelter in flat 203 the home of R ibraim Hassan aad Hassan and their two children theia and
01:14:39 theia and Hana Hassan aad Hassan you will recall was in Egypt supporting his brother who was Ill at the time in preparing for this presentation today we have learned that Hassan spoke to Abu fras on the
01:14:51 that Hassan spoke to Abu fras on the night of the fire following telephone calls to his wife in order to try and encourage them to leave if possible and to ensure that Abu fras was protecting the others Hassan was able to speak
01:15:03 the others Hassan was able to speak about this after the presentation for his own family at the beginning of this module and we want to share that information with the panel at this
01:15:14 juncture at 0138 R Ibrahim began to live stream events on Facebook in her flat in a recording that lasted until 014
01:15:26 recording that lasted until 014 433 by that stage fatia elsi and is isra had already come into the flat Abu fras can also be seen in the video the
01:15:37 can also be seen in the video the beginning of the film includes a London accented female voice who can later be identified as isra she's telling Ria not to open the front door presumably
01:15:48 to open the front door presumably because of the conditions in the corridor at 1 minute 14 seconds into the recording Ria Ibrahim says she is going out of the flat she then appears to step into the lobby returning at 1 minute 32
01:16:01 into the lobby returning at 1 minute 32 seconds she can be heard calling out while in the lobby during the course of the video Gary MERS can be seen to enter into the flat having come up from Flat
01:16:12 into the flat having come up from Flat 161
01:16:13 161 below at around 5 minutes and 21 seconds into the video Ria is heard to say the words to the effect of the whole building is burning and we're on the top floor she then queries how they could
01:16:25 floor she then queries how they could possibly get out in these
01:16:29 circumstances Professor P's Phase 2 evidence has underscored how occupants of the Flats on the top floor were inhibited from escaping by the dense smoke in their Lobby from as early as
01:16:40 smoke in their Lobby from as early as 0129 Ria's video has left the proof of that fatal obstacle members of the panel as you've heard in other presentations at this
01:16:52 heard in other presentations at this time the control room was receiving a significant number of fire survival um guidance calls from the top floor reporting the rapidly deteriorating conditions may I repeat that this
01:17:05 conditions may I repeat that this included the important calls regarding the deteriorating conditions in flat 2011 these were from Jessica aano Ramirez beginning at 0129 Bok haftom at
01:17:17 0129 Bok haftom at 0132 and Debbie lampol beginning at 0141 service requests to assist the residents on the top floor were created by the lfb control room and passed to
01:17:29 by the lfb control room and passed to the fire ground no deployment was made to the top floor until 0208 even though various lfb lists walls and portable forward information boards were
01:17:41 forward information boards were cognizant of the need to affect rescues on the 24 thir floor at least before
01:17:47 0150 the o28 deployment was diverted to floor 10 and did not reach floor 23 but but this was never registered with the F Bridge head its failure also did not
01:17:59 Bridge head its failure also did not prompt a re-evaluation of the stay put VI advice especially as regards occupants who were calling from that top floor further deployments to floor 23 were made at
01:18:10 were made at 0224
01:18:12 0224 0251 and
01:18:14 0251 and 0303 but none of these deployments reached that
01:18:20 destination Professor P's evidence has highlighted the tragic potential for residents to escape via the stairs including the top floor throughout the night for flat 203 he identifies the
01:18:33 night for flat 203 he identifies the window for someone of generally good health to successfully evacuate and walk down without collapse as remaining open until
01:18:41 until o320 however for a resident with significant mobility issues such as thaa alusi unassisted evacuation was not a realistic POS option especially once the
01:18:53 realistic POS option especially once the conditions in the stairwell deteriorate descending 23 floors within a time scale that would have averted collapse due to exposure to exient gases evidently P posed major risks even with the
01:19:06 posed major risks even with the assistance of family or friends residents with Mobility impairments on the higher floors and the family who were not prepared to leave them were effectively trapped the Eli
01:19:19 them were effectively trapped the Eli family faced a predicament of that nature the situation in turn directs attention to the status of the gfell lifts as found in the phase 1 report
01:19:30 lifts as found in the phase 1 report which Mobility impaired residents relied on to get to and from their Flats over the preceding years and during two prior significant lift works the gro lifts had
01:19:41 significant lift works the gro lifts had never been upgraded to the current technical standard of firefighting lifts the existing lifts were not capable of safe use for the purposes of evacuation of a Mobility impaired person such as
01:19:53 of a Mobility impaired person such as thaa alen
01:19:55 thaa alen in the event of a fire and the various parties have made submissions to the panel on that issue as you have heard just before 2 a.m. relatives of R Ibrahim who were
01:20:08 a.m. relatives of R Ibrahim who were aware of her situation began to make calls to the emergency services to tell them that she and her children were stuck in flat 203 on floor 23 Ria did not speak English as a first
01:20:21 23 Ria did not speak English as a first language she must have provided her mobile phone to isra who spoke fluent English with that London accent and can be very clearly identified in the subsequent calls that were made on that
01:20:33 subsequent calls that were made on that number it is the same voice that can be heard on the Facebook live feed at the beginning of the video urging Ria not to open the
01:20:41 open the door isra Ibrahim made repeated calls to the lfb over the following 45 minutes at 0 20525 she told C hon that she was is a
01:20:54 20525 she told C hon that she was is a part of a group of five adults and two children in flat 203 isra expressly asked for the status of the situation at the moment she was
01:21:05 of the situation at the moment she was assured that the fire was on the fourth floor but it was creating a lot of smoke she was expressly advised that it was not safe to go outside because there's a lot of spoke in the communal areas she
01:21:18 lot of spoke in the communal areas she was told to stay calm for the children and that firefighters would get to them as soon as possible isra called the lfb back at
01:21:29 isra called the lfb back at 02232 by which time she told cro gots that the next door flat was on fire she told the operator that it was not right that they were waiting she pressed as to
01:21:40 that they were waiting she pressed as to whether they were act there was actually enough firefighters to rescue them she queried quote do you not have enough people to help us it's a large building
01:21:51 people to help us it's a large building however she was again told that the firefighters were coming up when she asked whether the helicopters could assist she was told they are sending up a helicopter so that they can see it from the air but um I'll let them
01:22:06 know isra
01:22:14 ibraim isra ibraim spoke to the control room for a final time at 0 24206 she told C hson that smoke from
01:22:26 24206 she told C hson that smoke from the fire next door was coming in she emphasized that they were five adults with two children under five and when told to call back if there were any changes Israel made it plain that a
01:22:38 changes Israel made it plain that a further call might not be possible effectively because they would be dead CR hon again assured her that the firefighters were making their way up the building but would not be drawn on
01:22:51 the building but would not be drawn on what floor the fire photos were on at the moment panel that was a caller 02 4206 this was a point in time after the
01:23:02 4206 this was a point in time after the stap put advice had been forly revised by those in command in the control room at around
01:23:08 at around 0235 Al be it when the change may still have been in the process of being relayed to the individual operators during this call the occupants of flat 203 was still told that quote
01:23:20 of flat 203 was still told that quote the safest place for you at the moment is in the flat because you don't know what's going on
01:23:28 outside this is therefore one of those instances where stap put advice was given to callers right at the point where the advice was revoked but the lfb control room had no callback system to
01:23:39 control room had no callback system to communicate the change of advice and no such call was made Ria ibrahim's relatives separately called the control room at
01:23:50 called the control room at 02842 to say that in the previous few minutes they had spoken to their neighbor in flat 203 who was stuck with her two children the lfb operator on this call was again cro hon the caller
01:24:03 this call was again cro hon the caller told the operator that they had tried to get into the building but had been stopped by the police for the first time cro houseon communicated that if the resident was to phone back then quote
01:24:15 resident was to phone back then quote we're advising people now that they need to get out of the building the caller queried but how will they get out of the building no one shown them the way the
01:24:26 building no one shown them the way the operator emphasized that they needed to attempt to get out of the building and she also said she would let the crews know that R was still in the flat isra ibraim made no further calls
01:24:38 flat isra ibraim made no further calls that we know of after 0242 and that 999 call we do know as you have heard that at around 3:00 a.m. Ria Ibrahim spoke to her close friend Muna
01:24:50 Ibrahim spoke to her close friend Muna Mahmud by this time it was dark in the flat and and Ria was finding it difficult to breathe and coughing and children could be heard in the background coughing Mona tried to
01:25:01 background coughing Mona tried to convince Ria to leave but grania clearly remained under the impression that she was required to stay put and that someone was coming to rescue her based on what the control room had told her
01:25:12 on what the control room had told her she also referred to seeing a helicopter Ria spoke to her sister say ibraim at around the same time after that there was no further contact and
01:25:25 that there was no further contact and when Mana mahmud's friend Samir tried to call Ria's number at 0315 a.m. she did not
01:25:37 answer CCTV evidence shows that Abu fras Ibrahim fell from the tower at 03503 and having impacted with the canopy covering the front entrance to
01:25:49 canopy covering the front entrance to the building landed Beyond it watch manager Moore saw this happened and recorded the events in his witness account the night the final postmortem is clear that the medical cause of death
01:26:01 is clear that the medical cause of death of Abu fras was the severe injury suffered from the fall from height firefighters including DAC Olin group manager cook and firefighter Reynolds
01:26:13 manager cook and firefighter Reynolds carried Abu fras into the other cover area of the tower between 5025 and
01:26:21 5025 and 5030 the evidence of DAC ol and GM cook makes clear that Abu fras was their deceased at the time GM cook checked for signs of life and found
01:26:32 signs of life and found none GM cook asked Two fighters nearby to place a sheet over abras to perfect him and to provide some dignity he also asked them to inform the London Ambulance Service Medics later arrived
01:26:46 Ambulance Service Medics later arrived and death was formally pronounced at 605 the remains of mother and daughter fatia alusi and isra Ibrahim were
01:26:57 fatia alusi and isra Ibrahim were recovered from the bathroom of flat 203 in close proximity to one another and also in close proximity were R Ibrahim and her two daughters the remains of
01:27:09 and her two daughters the remains of Gary MERS were discovered in the adjacent separate toilet
01:27:15 area as Professor perser explains in his Phase 2 evidence Abu fras fell at a time of significant and rapid worsening in the condition in flat 203 due to the
01:27:26 the condition in flat 203 due to the spread of the exterior fire Professor persa describes how there would have been relatively slow smoke infiltration into the flat over the long period between 0130 until around 0311 to
01:27:39 period between 0130 until around 0311 to 0320 when there was increased smoke and toxic gas penetration associated with the external fire outside the bedroom the 20% carbo oxyhemoglobin
01:27:51 bedroom the 20% carbo oxyhemoglobin level revealed by toxicology sample taken from Abu fras after his death is significant in estimating the time of death of the other occupants who remained in the flat charting the likely
01:28:03 remained in the flat charting the likely accumulation of carbon monoxide using this point of reference he calculates a time of death for the adults Who Remain Sheltering in the bathroom and toilet area of approximately
01:28:15 area of approximately 0420 as already identified the medical cause of death for Abu fras IIM was multiple injuries consistent with a fall from height his fall like other cases
01:28:26 from height his fall like other cases you have consider and will hear of occurred at a time in the fire when occupants moved to the ledges of their open Windows to get air when clean air
01:28:37 open Windows to get air when clean air was running out in their own flats and unconsciousness was pending in the case of fatia and isra the medical cause of death was given as the more generic cause of consistent
01:28:49 the more generic cause of consistent with the effects of fire in the postmortem reports completed without the benefit of Professor P's evidence however that evidence now establishes that the medical cause of death can be
01:29:01 that the medical cause of death can be properly given as the more specific and informative in inhalation of toxic fumes or a similar formulation all indications are that they and the others died from the smoke
01:29:12 they and the others died from the smoke and fumes while they remained in the bathroom and the toilet in effect the last remaining places in the flat where they could shelter
01:29:27 fatia Ali Ahmed elsi brought her children to this country in dark circumstances her husband was dead she was alone here and had to make her
01:29:40 was alone here and had to make her teaching career over again and establish her young children in a land they had not grown up in she did that and much more she was a person who valued and
01:29:51 more she was a person who valued and championed her culture just as she championed and her children she was also respected and cared for by her community Abu Baka is a private man who
01:30:02 community Abu Baka is a private man who has lost his mother and two of his siblings it was an important moment in the commemoration when he spoke of his baby sister and the eldest brother that
01:30:13 baby sister and the eldest brother that was like a father to him he stands together with others like him who lost so much of themselves on that single and terrible night at greenfeld
01:30:26 Tower thank
01:30:31 you well thank you very much Mr fredman that brings us to the conclusion of today's hearing we shall sit again tomorrow morning at 10:00 when we shall
01:30:43 tomorrow morning at 10:00 when we shall hear further presentations in relation to those who died in the fire 10:00 tomorrow then
01:30:52 please for