Artist told friend to ‘pray for me’

A TALENTED artist sent a desperate message saying smoke was filling her flat – and added: ‘Please pray for me.’

Khadija Saye, 24, whose art is displayed in the prestigious Venice Biennale, told friends she and her mother Mary Mendy, 54, could not get out of their 20th floor flat.

Both are missing. Miss Saye’s friend Nicola Green, the wife of Tottenham MP David Lammy, said her messages continued until 3am. She said: ‘She was on Facebook saying she was unable to get out of the flat, that the smoke was so thick.

‘She was saying, “Please pray for me. There’s a fire. I can’t leave the flat. Please pray for me and my mum.” At one point she’d tried to leave again and it was impossible. She said she felt like she was going to faint.’

Miss Green added: ‘She’s received enormous attention in her first major exhibition. She’s an incredible artist.’