Guernsey Press

Grenfell firefighters gave residents false hope which cost lives: survivor

Farhad Neda and his mother Flora were the only survivors from the top floor of the tower block.

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Firefighters “fatally let down” the residents of Grenfell Tower by giving them false hope that a rescue was possible, a bereaved survivor has said.

Farhad Neda carried his mother Flora down from their home on the top floor of the block as the inferno raged on June 14 last year.

They were the only two survivors from the 23rd floor, with Mr Neda’s father Mohamed among the victims.

Mr Neda gave a withering assessment of the fire brigade’s actions when he appeared at the Grenfell Tower inquiry on Thursday.

Mohamed Neda
Farhad Neda’s father Mohamed died in the tragedy (handout/PA)

Mr Neda and his family were among those who believed they were better off awaiting rescue, until it became apparent their situation was dire.

The survivor told a hearing at Holborn Bars: “Having been in the fire that night and not knowing what was going on outside or on the other floors of the tower and having heard the testimony of the firefighters, I feel that the residents were fatally let down.

“Having been in contact with the firefighters outside while I was inside the tower, I was on several occasions told that they were on their way to get us and I feel that this was false hope.

“I feel it is the false hope which prevented quite a number of people from escaping the tower that night.

“The image that we had being in the tower was that the building was swarmed with firefighters, enough for everyone to have some assistance, not just a few people that were on the lower floors.”

Farhad Neda and his mother
Farhad Neda helped his mother Flora to safety (Channel 4 News/PA)

The majority of the victims were clustered in the uppermost levels of the block.

Mr Neda continued: “I feel that if we were told the truth, if, even after the point when the firefighters knew that they wouldn’t be able to reach those that were on the upper floors, if they would have just told us that ‘there is nothing we can do, do whatever you can’, at least people would have had time to make a decision for themselves to get out or to stay in the building.

“I feel that it was too late to make any decision once they were trapped.

“Even if those who were trapped beyond the point of having any way to escape, if they knew that the firefighters were not coming to get them or if they didn’t have any way of escape, they could have at least prepared themselves for what was to come.

“They could have at least prayed if they are a religious person, they could have at least prepared themselves for the pain they were about to go through.

“I think that is quite important and I think the key word in it is false hope.”

Grenfell Tower fire
The flames reached the very top of the tower (PA)

Giving evidence later on Thursday, Farhad’s mother Flora also questioned the stay-put policy.

She said: “Stay put means ‘we will do something for you’ or ‘we are here to help you’ – those people who died on the night of the fire, the only cause of their death was the stay-put policy.

“If they didn’t believe the fire brigade and the stay-put policy and they had not trusted them and listened to them, I’m sure they would have been alive, including my husband.

“The fire brigade has to take responsibility for their mistakes.

“This mistake destroyed my life, my son’s life and also all the people in Grenfell Tower, whether they died or survived, all of them.”

Mohamed Neda was a chauffeur who moved to the UK in 1998 and was regarded by his son as his best friend.

Farhad Neda said in a separate written statement that his father had stayed behind to help other residents who were sheltering in the family’s flat to prepare for an escape.

Four neighbours were with him when he died – mother and daughter Mariem and Eslah Elgwahry and sisters Fatemah and Sakina Afrasiabi.

His son said: “No words can convey the sadness knowing that all five died in the fire. No words can convey the loss of my dear dad.

“However, I am extremely proud of him. He gave those ladies comfort and encouragement when all hope looked lost at the top of Grenfell Tower.”

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