Firefighter cries ‘every day’ for tower girl

A firefighter who undertook a mission to save a 12-year-old girl from Grenfell Tower has described crying “every day” after learning of her death.

David Badillo, part of the North Kensington crew which arrived first at the inferno last June, promised the sister of Jessica Urbano Ramirez he would attempt to rescue her from the 20th floor. He recounted the doomed rescue bid in heartbreaking detail as part of a written statement submitted to the Grenfell Tower public inquiry yesterday.

The firefighter battled through smoke-clogged corridors to reach Flat 176, Jessica’s family home, but found the door “ajar” and the young girl nowhere after she left to take shelter on the 23rd floor, where she was found dead.

Mr Badillo first encountered Jessica’s “panicked and anxious” sister at the foot of the tower and took the keys to her flat.

He decided to break “normal procedure” and head above the floor where the fire began, without telling anyone.

The statement said: “I just wanted to go and get the little girl out of the flat, as she was alone.”

He wrote: “It has deeply affected me and it is never far from my thoughts.”