Grenfell Tower fire: Every one of the 72 victims of the deadly blaze remembered

In the most deadly residential blaze since the Second World War, 72 people died in the inferno that engulfed Grenfell Tower.
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London faced one of the darkest days in its history on June 14, 2017, as 72 people were killed in the Grenfell Towerfire.

Just before 1am, a fire broke out in the kitchen of a fourth-floor flat and flames spread rapidly up the tower.

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All four sides of the building were alight within minutes and most of the upper floors were on fire by 3am.

Many of the residents at Grenfell Tower had moved to the UK from abroad in search of a better life.

Several of those who died lived in the council-owned building, while others were visiting friends and family.

The youngest victim was a still-born baby boy who never got to meet his two big sisters.

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Among the eldest victims was an 84-year-old great-grandmother of three who had lived at the tower for over 30 years.

Then prime minister Theresa May said the fire was “a tragedy unparalleled in recent history” and promised the survivors would get “the homes and support they need, and the truth and justice they deserve”.

Five years on, questions remain about whether survivors of the tragedy and the local community in North Kensington have received the support and justice they are after.

Survivors and bereaved families have paid tribute to their loved ones and their lives have also been remembered through artworks, documentaries and now even a play.

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The Grenfell Inquiry in London is ongoing. The deep-dive into what happened has so far revealed the cladding on the tower played a key role in the fire spreading so quickly, and that lots of victims were told to stay put in their flats by emergency services.

Five years on from the fire we remember those whose lives were taken by the tragedy.

Photos of the victims of Grenfell Tower laid out. Credit: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty ImagesPhotos of the victims of Grenfell Tower laid out. Credit: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images
Photos of the victims of Grenfell Tower laid out. Credit: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images

Floor 23

Gloria Trevisan and Marco Gottardi

Gloria Trevisan, 26, and Marco Gottardi, 27, were both architects who lived on the top floor of Grenfell Tower in flat 202. The couple moved to London from Italy to find work and had only been living there for a few months before they died.

Gloria called home during the blaze, when they were stuck on the 23rd floor. Her father, Loris Trevisan told his local newspaper: “They wanted to go down but said they could see the flames going up the stairs and the smoke was more and more intense.”

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Loris told the inquiry Gloria was a hard worker, “very sporty and active”. He said: “She was born to draw and did the most beautiful drawings and portraits… I was very proud of her.”

Marco’s family and friends have written a children’s fairytale book in memory of him and Gloria. His mother, Daniela Burigotto, told BBC News: “I hope they are happy – somewhere else.”

Fathia Ali Ahmed Elsanousi, Isra Ibrahim, and Abufras Ibrahim

Fathia Ali Ahmed Elsanousi was a Sudanese teacher who came to the UK as a refugee fleeing persecution. The 73-year-old lived on the top floor of Grenfell in flat 206. She died with her daughter Isra Ibrahim, 33. Her son Abufras Ibrahim, 39, was visiting the tower that night, the inquiry heard. He also died in the fire.

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Fathia’s sister Hayat Elsanosi told the Grenfell Inquiry: “She felt safe in London but because of the way she died this now feels like an illusion for us.” Her son, Abu Baker Mohamed Ibrahim, said in a statement: “My mum was incredibly welcoming, and she had so much experience in life that she really knew how to talk to people and people enjoyed being around her… They were all strong and brave and giving.”

Isra’s husband Said Essaouini told the inquiry: “I feel like I lost my world. Every Friday I go to the cemetery and I sit down and talk to her for two hours – I know she is listening to me.”

Raymond ‘Moses’ Bernard

Raymond Bernard, known as ‘Moses’, lived on the 23rd floor of Grenfell Tower at flat 201. He moved to the UK from Trinidad in 1969, worked as an electrician and DJ’d in his 20s.

The 63-year-old offered shelter to other victims trying to escape the tower on the night of the fire. His sister Bernadette Bernard told the inquiry: “Ray being a man, and the strongest, he was probably the last to die. He would have been so alone. We know from the details shared by the coroner that Ray was a hero on that tragic night.”

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He was found in his flat with six other residents, including one of the youngest victims of the fire, 12-year-old Biruk Haftom.

Mohamed Amied Neda

Mohamed Amied Neda, 57, was a Kabul-born chauffeur who lived on the top floor of the tower in flat 205. He was known by friends and family as ‘Saber’.

The inquiry heard Mohamed had served in the army in Afghanistan and moved to the UK in 1998 with his wife and son, who both escaped the fire. It is believed Mohamed died after trying to help neighbours on the stairwell. His son, Farhad, told the inquiry Mohamed helped four women by giving them wet towels to protect themselves during the last moments of his life.

He said: “Mum and dad were kind and loving to each other, and with me… The loss of my dad, who was my best friend, has torn my world apart. Mere words cannot describe the total feeling of loss which my mum and I have experienced.”

Rania Ibrahim, Fethia Hassan, Hania Hassan

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Rania Ibrahim, 31, husband Hassan Hassan, and daughters Fethia Hassan, four, and Hania Hassan, three, lived in flat 203 on the top floor of Grenfell Tower. Hassan was not in the tower on the night of the fire. He told the inquiry his life had “fully stopped” since the tragedy.

Rania’s neighbour Munira Mahmud called her at around 3am on the morning of the fire after escaping the blaze with her family. She told the Grenfell Inquiry Rania was told to stay put by the fire service. Rania had filmed a live video of smoke filling their flat during the tragedy.

Sohaila Ismail, a friend of Rania’s, said in a statement: “I still can’t believe she is gone… To this day I still sometimes see a woman in the street and feel sure it is Rania.”

Hesham Rahman

Hesham Rahman, 57, had lived in Grenfell Tower since 2012. He lived alone on the 23rd floor at flat 204 and suffered from diabetes, which made it hard for him to walk. His family waited 11 weeks for his death to be confirmed.

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Hesham’s nephew Karim Mussilhy told the inquiry that officials let the community down after the fire and bereaved family members and survivors had to fend for themselves. He said: “I realised [my] uncle was probably dead and we watched him burn.”

Hesham’s aunt, Shafika Ragab said in a statement: “I miss Hesham very much. I raised him as one of my own and I viewed him as my son. He was very close with my children who viewed him as a sibling.”

Where the Grenfell Tower victims lived and died.Where the Grenfell Tower victims lived and died.
Where the Grenfell Tower victims lived and died.

Floor 22

Anthony Disson

Anthony Disson, 65, lived in flat 194 on floor 22 of the tower. Also known as Tony, he was a retired lorry driver and grandfather, with three sons. It is believed he spoke to his family at around 3.30am and was told to stay in his flat.

His son, Alfie, told the inquiry: “He said to me that he was not going to leave as the firefighters have told him to stay. I kept pleading with him to leave. He kept telling me that there was black smoke everywhere… We had a 5 minute conversation between me and him and he was saying to me that if he did not make it, that he loved me and my brothers and I should not forget this.”

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His family said: “Tony was a real family man. His boys were his life. He was a loving husband, and a one in a million Dad. Tony was the heart and soul of our family, of whom he was extremely proud.”

Eslah Elgwahry and Mariem Elgwahry

Eslah Elgwahry, 64, and her daughter Mariem, 27, lived on floor 22 and were found on the top floor of the tower. Eslah’s daughter-in-law Fergana Elgwahry told the inquiry she spoke to Mariem on the phone on the night of the fire. She said the mother and daughter tried to escape the tower but were told to stay inside.

Ferzana said: “I had a very close relationship with them both and loved them dearly. I would speak to Mariem almost every day and I would visit them at least once a week.”

Eulah’s son Ahmed told the inquiry he called his sister on the night of the fire. He said: “She was trying to keep my mum calm, doing what she does best, which was to help others… I had a very close relationship with my mum and sister. I would visit them frequently and would speak to them on the phone almost daily.”

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Nura Jamal, Hashim Kedir, Yahya Hashim, Firdaws Hashim, Yaqub Hashim

Nura Jamal, 35, and husband Hashim Kedir, 44, died in the fire with their children Yahya Hashim, 13, Firdaws Hashim, 12, and Yaqub Hashim, six. The family lived on the 22nd floor of the tower.

In a statement, relatives said Yaqub was a happy and energetic child and his school friends said he was “a great boy and a kind friend”. Firdaws was said to be a “talented public speaker”. The inquiry heard she had won a debating prize by Bill Gates months before she died.

Yahya’s aunt said: “One tiny thing that gives me some type of comfort now and then is knowing the fact that you were/are together with your family that you loved most. I have no choice but to accept the fact that you are in a better place now.”

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Hashim had worked as a builder, parking attendant and electrician and gained his black cab licence not long before the fire, the inquiry heard.

The Choucair family – Sirria Choucair, Mierna Choucair, Zainab Choucair, Fatima Choucair, Bassem Choukair, Nadia Choucair

Nadia Choucair, her husband Bassem, mother Sirria and three daughters Mierna, 13, Fatima, 11, and three-year-old Zainab lived on the 22nd floor. Sirria, 60, lived in flat 191 while the rest of the family lived at number 193.

Sirria moved to the UK from Lebanon in the 1960s and worked at the Royal Marsden Hospital. She was good friends with her boss Maria Del Pilar Burton, who also lived at the tower and died six months after the tragedy. Sirria’s son and Nadia’s brother, Hisam Choucair, told the inquiry: “I once had a beautiful sister, Nadia, and a loving, caring, beautiful Mum, Sirria, whose lives have been robbed from us and deprived of our love.”

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He said Bassem, 40, worked at Marks and Spencer and never took a day off. Hisam said he was “an excellent father, kind and considerate”. He told the inquiry: “All he wanted was to look after and protect his family.”

Hisam said he desperately drove all over London with his brother Nabil and visited 11 hospitals trying to find his family members immediately after the fire, hoping they were alive.

What kind of building was Grenfell (NationalWorld / Mark Hall)What kind of building was Grenfell (NationalWorld / Mark Hall)
What kind of building was Grenfell (NationalWorld / Mark Hall)

Floor 21

Logan Gomes

Logan Gomes was stillborn in hospital after his parents and sisters escaped the fire. His mother Andreia was seven months pregnant at the time of the tragedy. Logan was due to be born on August 21, a week after the fire.

Logan’s father Marcio Gomes told the Grenfell Inquiry how he escaped the tower on June 14 and recalled stepping over bodies, fearing they were his family.

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He said: “We lost everything that we owned in the flat. We were burnt out of our house and home… Andreia had carried Logan happily and without any complications for seven months. The depth and pain of the loss of our unborn son cannot be conveyed by mere words.”

The El Wahabi family – Abdulaziz El-Wahabi, Faouzia El-Wahabi, Yasin El-Wahabi, Nur Huda El-Wahabi, Mehdi El-Wahabi

The El Wahabi family lived at flat 182 on the 21st floor of the tower. Abdulaziz EI-Wahabi, 52, wife, Faouzia, 42, and children Yasin, 20, Nur Huda, 15, and Mehdi, eight, all died in the fire.

At the time of the tragedy, Abdulaziz worked as a hospital porter, Faouzia undertook voluntary work and Yasin studied accountancy at Greenwich University. Abdulaziz’s sister, Hanan Wahabi, also lived in the tower with her husband and two children. They managed to escape from their flat on the ninth floor on the night of the blaze.

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Hanan said in a statement that Mehdi attended school full-time, Yasin had many friends, and Nur Huda had just finished her GCSEs. She added: “I picked up the results after she died. She had gotten high marks. I know her parents would have been very proud of her.”

Ligaya Moore

Ligaya Moore, 78, was from the Phillipines and had lived in London for 40 years by the time of the fire. She loved her flat, number 181, on the 21st floor because it made her feel “on top of the world”, the inquiry heard.

Ligaya’s friend Nenita Bunggay told the inquiry: “She was so proud to live in Grenfell. She would always say every time we walked past: ‘Nenita, that’s my building… I love it so much… I love seeing it every day.’”

Another friend, Caroline Custodio told the inquiry: “She was like my mother because I have been away from my family. It’s really hard for me now. The last time I saw her she was so happy.”

How the Grenfell Tower fire spread.How the Grenfell Tower fire spread.
How the Grenfell Tower fire spread.

Floor 20

Khadija Saye and Mary Mendy

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Khadija Saye, 24, also known as Ya-Haddy Sisi Saye, was a talented artist and photographer who lived on the 20th floor in flat 173 with her mother Mary Mendy, 54. At the time of the fire, Khadija wrote on Facebook: “Facebook: “There’s a fire in my council block, can’t leave the flat. Please pray for me and my mum.” She was found dead on the ninth floor after trying to escape the tower.

Her mother, also known as Cissy, was found in the lobby on the 13th floor. Born in Gambia in 1965, she had lived in Grenfell tower since 1993 and worked as a carer. Mary’s niece and Khadija’s cousin, Marion Telfer, told the inquiry her aunt raised her and was like a mother to her while she saw Khadija as a sister. In a statement, she said: “For Khadija not to have been with my aunt, my aunt must have told her to keep going and try to make a run for it.”

Khadija’s work was shown at the Venice Biennale and the Tate Britain after she died. MP for Tottenham David Lammy was a friend of Khadija’s. He said she was a “tender, beautiful and creative soul” whose work “reflects that deep sensibility that was part of her personality”.

Jessica Urbano Ramirez

Jessica Urbano Ramirez, 12, was at home in flat 176 on the 20th floor of Grenfell on June 14. Her parents were not home at the time and she called them pleading for help.

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Her mother Adriana said she told Jessica to run down the stairs as fast as she could but her body was found in the 23rd floor flat of Raymond Bernard. She told the inquiry: “Jessica brought us nothing but joy from the moment she came to us. She was a gift to our family.”

In a statement, her family said: “Nothing will ever bring our little girl back, and we are angry that this should ever have happened to our little angel. We will not rest until we get justice for her and for the many other lives lost as a result of this crime.”

The Belkadi family – Omar Belkadi, Farah Hamdan, Malak Belkadi, Leena Belkadi

Farah Hamdan, 31, and her husband, Omar Belkadi, 32, lived on the 20th floor of the tower with their three daughters. One of their daughters escaped the fire and survived but both parents, six-month-old Leena and eight-year-old Malak died.

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The family moved into flat 175 in 2014. Malak died in hospital after firefighters rescued her from the blaze. Leena was found in her mother’s arms.

Farah’s sister Samira Hamdan told the inquiry she spoke to her on the phone on the night of the fire. She said: “I asked if they were coming out and she told me that the 999 operator had told them to stay put and help was coming.”

She added: “We were very close… We chatted daily, sharing our lives with each other. Also a couple of nights a week, often after our Friday night family dinner, the kids would have a sleepover and a movie night together at my mum’s… We were very involved in each other’s lives.”

Victoria King and Alexandra Atala

Victoria King, 71, and her daughter Alexandra Atala, 40, died next to each other on the 20th floor, according to reports. They both lived in flat 172 and had moved to Grenfell in 1998. They had also lived outside the UK, including Australia and Turkey, for several years beforehand.

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In a statement, Vicky’s brother, Mark Bennett, said: “In June 2017, I saw the coverage of the fire on the news. Like everyone across the world, I was horrified and saddened by what I saw. When I learned, four months later, that the tower had been home to my sister and niece and that they had not survived the fire, it was, and continues to be, very difficult to process.”

Their family said the mother and daughter “were devoted to one another and spent so many mutually-supportive years together”.

“They died at each other’s side and now they can rest together in peace.”

The names of some of the victims are seen on a railing near to the site of Grenfell Tower. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesThe names of some of the victims are seen on a railing near to the site of Grenfell Tower. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images
The names of some of the victims are seen on a railing near to the site of Grenfell Tower. Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Floor 19

Marjorie and Ernie Vital

Marjorie Vital, 68, and her son Ernie, 50, lived at flat 162 on the 19th floor of Grenfell. The pair tried to escape by climbing to the top floor of the tower block.

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Marjorie had her first child aged 15 and left school at 16. She was pregnant with her second son when she travelled to London. Her family would tease her and call Grenfell “Marjorie’s Tower”. She had continued to make clothes her whole life.

Marjorie’s son and Ernie’s brother, who did not want to be named, told the Grenfell Inquiry his brother and mother were very close and “Ernie’s umbilical cord was never cut”.

Gary Maunders

Gary Maunders, a 57-year-old painter and decorator from North Kensington, was visiting a friend who lived on the 19th floor at Grenfell Tower when he died. He was found on the 23rd floor.

Ana Pumar, the mother of Gary’s two youngest children, told the Grenfell Inquiry: “Sadly for us, future milestones will be reached without having their father present, and future memories will not involve their father, which is heart-breaking for us.

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His nieces, Chanel and Kenita Spence, said Gary was more like a big brother than an uncle and “the pain of losing him is indescribable”. They also said he was a Manchester United fan and talented footballer in his younger years and once had the chance of playing for Arsenal.

Amna Mahmud Idris

Born in Eritrea, Amna, 27, died while visiting her cousin, Amal Ahmedin, who lived on the 19th floor. She was found on the 23rd floor of the tower, near Amal and her daughter, Amaya.

Amna’s husband, Ibrahim, said in a tribute that she dreamed of becoming an artist. He said: “She was all my life… now I have lost the support. She would support me at all times. She came to live with me in the UK in March 2016. After one year I lost her forever.”

Mohamednur Tuccu, Amal Ahmedin and Amaya Tuccu-Ahmedin

Mohamednur “Mo” Tuccu, 44, his partner Amal Ahmedin, 35, and their three-year-old daughter Amaya all perished in the fire. Amal and Amaya lived in a flat on floor 19 and it is believed Mo had been visiting them at the time.

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Amal’s sister Feruza Afewerki, told the inquiry: “She was a people person and very popular. I loved her deeply. My niece was a bundle of joy. Amal gave her the best she could… I always admired her style. She was glamorous. She worked in Selfridges and so she always had the latest clothes and knew the latest fashions.”

Amal’s sister Winta told the Grenfell Inquiry: “To this day and the rest of my life, I will never accept that they are gone and that I will never be able to see them again and I will never be able to feel their warmth, their kind and loving hearts.”

Maria Del Pilar Burton

Maria Del Pilar Burton, 74, was rescued from the tower on the night of the fire but died in hospital six months later. She was born in Spain and had lived at Grenfell Tower since 1976.

Also known as ‘Pily’, she suffered from dementia and her health became worse after the tragedy. Her husband Nicholas Burton, who lived with her in flat 165 on the 19th floor, was also rescued by firefighters.

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He told the inquiry the couple had to leave their beloved dog, Lewis, behind. Nicholas told the inquiry: “I loved my wife and I was in awe of her… She was an extraordinary woman.”

Families and friends who lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire hold portraits of victims as they march to Grenfell Tower in west London at midnight June 14, 2018 .Families and friends who lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire hold portraits of victims as they march to Grenfell Tower in west London at midnight June 14, 2018 .
Families and friends who lost loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire hold portraits of victims as they march to Grenfell Tower in west London at midnight June 14, 2018 .

Floor 18

Berkti and Biruk Haftom

Berkti Haftom, 29, was 10-weeks pregnant when she was killed in the blaze along with her 12-year-old son Biruk. They lived at flat 155 on the 18th floor and were both found on the top floor of the tower.

“Biruk was so happy that his mother was going to have a baby,” a statement by Ms Haftom’s sisters at the inquiry said in 2018. The inquiry also heard from the 12-year-old’s cousin Hemen Yemen, 7, who remembered him in a video message.

She said: “We were all excited but the fire took the excitement away from us. I was very happy but my happiness has gone because of the tragedy of Grenfell Tower. I miss him so much I still don’t know what to do without him.”

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Her sister Selamawit Tesgay said in a statement: “My family is my life and the loss of two of my family members has been devastating to both myself and my daughter and indeed to my sisters, nephews and nieces. We will never be able to fill the gap that Berikti and Biruk have left.”

Sakineh and Fatemeh Afrasiabi

Fatemeh Afrasiabi, 59, had gone to visit her sister Sakineh, 65, at flat 151 on the 18th floor of Grenfell Tower on June 13. Sakineh had difficulty walking and was visually impaired. She had been waiting for a new property for 17 years before she moved into Grenfell.

The pair climbed up to the 23rd floor to try and buy some time as firefighters approached. Tragically, Sakineh was forced to say goodbye to her son over the phone. In a video shown to the inquiry, Fatemeh’s daughters said she was a talented painter and doll-maker with a “beautiful” singing voice.

Sakineh’s daughter, Shiva Aghlani, told the inquiry her mother and aunt loved the views from Grenfell Tower. She said: “I am glad that my mother at least did not die alone, but it terrifies me every time I think about how scared (they) must have been.”

Isaac Paulos

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Isaac Paulos, 5, lived on the 18th floor in flat 153 with his father Paulos Tekke and younger brother. His family managed to escape but Isaac died in the blaze. At around 2am a firefighter at the door told them again to stay in the flat. They were not told to leave for another 45 minutes.

His father has previously spoken about the pain of losing his son. In 2018 he told ITV News: “I feel as if my head has been cut off, I feel as if I am dead.”

In a statement following the inquest into Isaac’s death in 2017 the family said in a statement: “Isaac our beloved son was taken from us when he was only five years old. We will all miss our kind, energetic, generous little boy. He was such a good boy who was loved by his friends and family. We will miss him forever, but we know God is looking after him now and that he is safe in heaven.”

The Grenfell Tower fire. Credit: DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Grenfell Tower fire. Credit: DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images
The Grenfell Tower fire. Credit: DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images

Floor 17

Vincent Chiejina

Vincent Chiejina lived in flat 144 on the 17th floor. The 60-year-old was an active member of the St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Notting Hill and an enthusiastic volunteer with the Open Age Charity.

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In video testimony to the Grenfell inquiry, his sister Obi Chiejina said: “He was good at looking after vulnerable people [and] would never reject anybody because they were less privileged than himself. He was always good at spotting that – not exploiting it – but wanting to quietly support them with whatever troubles they had.

Khadija Khalloufi

Retired lecturer Khadija Khalloufi, 52, lived on the 17th floor of Grenfell Tower at flat 143 with Sabah Abdullah, her husband of 25 years. Sabah tragically lost the grip of his wife’s hand between the 16th and 15th floors.

Her brother paid tribute to her at the Grenfell Inquiry. He said: “She was a person who never ceased helping us emotionally as well as financially, especially after the death of my father. She was a strong, independent woman who worked hard to help her family as much as she could.”

The Begum family – Kamru Miah, Rabiya Begum, Mohammed Hamid, Mohammed Hanif, and Husna Begum

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Kamru Miah, 79, was housed on the 17th floor of Grenfell Tower and had suffered from two strokes. He lived in flat 142 with Rabia Begum, 64, Mohammed Hamid, 27, Mohammed Hanif, 26, and Husna Begum, 22.

When the fire broke the family chose to stay together even when there may have been an opportunity for both Mohammeds and Husna to escape. Paying tribute to his family in 2018 Mohammed Hakim, the only surviving member of his family, said: “I can say with my hand on my heart that I am extremely proud of my family remaining close to each other in their last moments before passing away.

“I am even more proud as a brother that my siblings did not leave my parents behind, even though they might have had the chance to escape.”

Floor 16

Joseph Daniels

Joseph Daniels lived on the 16th floor of Grenfell Tower in flat 135 with his son Samuel Daniels. He had mobility issues and dementia.

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Samuel had tried to get his father out but he was forced to leave his father after he could see a “wall of fire through the window. It felt like I was running away from my father,” Samuel Daniels told the Grenfell Inquiry in 2018.

Joseph Daniels’ son Sam asked for no applause after his short commemoration at the inquiry. He said: “My father moved to London in 1982 and Grenfell Tower was his only home since then. The events of that night took his life and all trace of his existence from this world. He never stood a chance of getting out, it should never have happened.”

Deborah Lamprell

Deborah Lamprell had fled to the 23rd floor of the tower as the fire broke out. She had a 40-minute call with a 999 operator while trapped on the top floor of Grenfell.

Deborah, also known as ‘Debbie’, lived at flat 161 on the 16th floor. Debbie’s mother Miriam Lamprell paid tribute to her at the Grenfell Inquiry in 2018. In a statement read out on her behalf she said: “We were an incredibly close and happy family.

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“We loved Debbie. We were blessed with Debbie in a way that is very special. She was always extremely popular and loved other people’s company and was surrounded by other people.”

Sheila Smith

Sheila Smith, 84, lived on the 16th floor of the tower block in flat 132. The mother-of-two reportedly dropped her surname and had lived at Grenfell for 34 years.

She was also a grandmother-of-six and had three great-grandchildren. Sheila loved cycling around London and swam at a nearby leisure centre until she was 80.

In an emotional statement released by the Met Police in 2017, Sheila’s family said: “With her exploration of the alternative, in her lifetime she amassed a wealth of knowledge, wrote poetry and philosophical and political thoughts, and created some highly original artwork – nearly all of which now sadly lost in the fire at Grenfell Tower.”

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It added: “As a family we are heartbroken as to this senseless tragedy that took her far too early, and will do all we can to honour her name.”

Floor 15

Hamid Kani

Hamid Kani, 61, lived on the 15th floor of the tower block. His body was found on the top floor of Grenfell. In a statement, the family of Mr Kani said: “Hamid will always be remembered for his wit, compassion and devotion to his family and friends.

“No words can express our sorrow for his loss and the way he left us. He will always be part of our lives and his memory will live on.”

Steve Power

Steve Power, 63, died with his three dogs huddled around him after he was advised to stay put in his flat, number 122 on the 15th floor. He had lived in Grenfell Tower for 32 years. His children said: “Our dad was nothing short of a character. He left some sort of impression on everyone, like Marmite. The majority loved him.”

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Sherry Power told the Grenfell Inquiry in 2018: “He had such an eclectic taste in music. Our house was always full with good vibes. People would come over to listen to music and have a drink… I want flashbacks of us from the past.”

Floor 14

Mohammad al-Haj Ali

Syrian refugee Mohammad al-Haj Ali, 23, was the first victim to be formally identified. He lived at flat 112 on the 14th floor of Grenfell Tower. Mohammad had tried to follow his brother Omar down the stairs of the burning building.

His friend Abdulaziz Almashi told the Independent in 2017: “He survived Assad, he survived the [Syrian civil] war, only to be killed in a tower block in London.”

Mohammad’s girlfriend Amal told Sky News: “He taught me to love myself. He made me feel like I can do things in my life. I always think about him and if he was here today he would tell me ‘you can do so many things.’”

Denis Murphy

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Denis Murphy, 56, lived in flat 111 on the 14 floor of the tower. Paying tribute to her brother at the Grenfell Inquiry in 2018 Anne Marie Murphy said: “He was the linchpin of our family and touched the lives of so many people. Once you met Dennis you would never forget his warmth, wit, cheeky smile and love of life.”

His son, Peter Murphy, told the inquiry: “I spent weekends with my Dad and have good memories of my time spent in Grenfell. Dad would let me roam on other floors; it was a friendly place. I would speak with many of the people living there… Whenever I needed my Dad he was there for me 100%. He would move mountains for me.”

Zainab and Jeremiah Deen

Zainab Deen, 32, and her two-year-old son Jeremiah both lived in flat 115 on the 14th floor. The Grenfell Inquiry heard how firefighters struggled to reach above the 12th floor.

Jeremiah’s grandfather, Zainu Deen, described him as a “handsome and cheerful boy”. In a statement read out at the Grenfell Inquiry in 2018 he said: “We will focus on how happy he made us when he was in our lives.

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“Most of all, we are happy that you are with your mother Zainab, who loved, treasured and adored you. She will keep you safe now, as she protected you in life. Throughout your short time here on Earth you were so connected with your mother that even death cannot separate you both.”

Speaking about his daughter, Zainu said: “We are grateful for the brief time we were able to spend with you and believe that the angels are rejoicing because one of their loved ones has re-joined them. Until we meet again, beautiful soul.”

Floor 11

Abdeslam Sebbar

Abdeslam Sebbar, 77, lived on the 11th floor of the tower in flat 81. He died from inhalation of fumes. His son, Mohammed Sebbar, told the Grenfell Inquiry he drove to the tower on the night of the fire and spoke to Abdeslam on the phone. In a statement, he said police pushed him away from the building and assured him his father would be rescued by the fire service.

He said: “The fire was spreading very fast and chunks of cladding with fire were being thrown toward us. People were screaming, shouting, crying all around us…

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“British people were burning alive in London in one of the richest boroughs in the UK. Shame on anyone who had a hand in the loss of those innocent people.”

Ali Yawar Jafari

Ali Yawar Jafari, 82, was an Afghan jeweller with a heart problem and diabetes. He moved to Grenfell in 2003 and lived on the 11th floor in flat 86. He died on floor 10 while trying to escape the blaze. Ali knocked on neighbours’ doors in an attempt to alert them about what was happening.

Ali got split up from his family when attempting to flee the fire. In a video tribute shown to the Grenfell Inquiry in 2018, Mr Jafari was described by his family as a “kind person and a kind husband”.

His family also remembered his love for travel and animals and how he’s once freed a trapped pigeon. Maria, his daughter, explained the family wanted to show more happy photos to the inquiry but their memories had been lost in the fire.

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