Youngest victim, 5 choked after letting go of friend’s hand
A BOY of five who became separated from his family as they fled Grenfell Tower choked to death on toxic fumes, an inquest heard yesterday.
Isaac paulos, the youngest victim to be officially identified to date, was found by the lifts on the 13th floor, Westminster Coroner’s Court heard.
His mother had wrapped a wet towel around his head as the family tried to escape with neighbours from their home on the 18th floor. But tragically he somehow lost grip of a friend’s hand and was lost in the thick, black smoke.
yesterday Westminster senior coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox opened and adjourned his inquest and the inquests into three other victims.
Coroner’s officer eric sword said Isaac, who was identified by dental records, had died from ‘inhalation of fire fumes’.
speaking at the time, his devastated mother, Genet shawo, described how she realised he was not with them only when they got outside the burning building in West London. ‘ My neighbour said he would hold him and bring him down, but when I got outside I realised Isaac wasn’t there,’ she said. ‘ My neighbour said he had lost hold of him and couldn’t find him. you couldn’t see anything in the smoke.’
Dr Wilcox said that so far 18 bodies of the 79 people feared dead had been identified and again stressed the scale of the task facing the recovery team.
another of the victims identified yesterday was Khadija saye, who was found on the ninth floor. she lived on the 20th storey. The preliminary cause of death for the 24-year-old artist was ‘inhalation of fire fumes and burns’. Miss saye, who was also known as ya-Haddy sisi saye, was identified by her fingerprints.
Her mother, Mary ajaoi augustus Mendy, 54, was discovered four storeys above her in the lobby of the 13th floor. Known as Cissy, she also succumbed to the toxic fumes. Mohamednur Tuccu, 44, was also identified yesterday. He had been visiting relatives with wife amalahmedin and their three-year-old daughter, who are both missing, presumed dead.
Mr Tuccu was found outside the entrance of Kensington Leisure Centre and again is believed to have died from the fumes. The inquests were adjourned until July 12.