Tower inquest Boy, 5, choked on fumes

One of the youngest victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy choked to death on fumes from the fire, an inquest heard.

Five-year-old Isaac Paulos, above left, had a wet towel wrapped around his head as his family tried to escape with neighbours from their 18th floor home, but his hand slipped from his neighbour’s grasp as they tried to escape. His body was eventually found on the 13th floor, Westminster Coroner’s Court was told. As with so many other victims, Isaac had to be identified by his dental records.

Westminster coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox opened and adjourned the inquests of four people – including Isaac – yesterday.

Coroner’s officer Eric Sword told the short hearing that Isaac’s preliminary cause of death had been given as “inhalation of fire fumes”.

The other three victims whose inquests were opened included artist Khadija Saye, 24, along with her mother, Mary Ajaoi Augustus Mendy and Mohamednur Tuccu, 44.

Provisional cause of death for the three other victims was inhalation of fire fumes or burns.