The Sunday Post (Newcastle)

2009: ‘Go and save your lives’... dad’s dying words to heartbroke­n Annette

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THE Grenfell tragedy brought back terrible memories for Annette Smith.

Her father died after a blaze in his multi-storey flat – despite her attempts to save him. Thomas Smith, 61, was trapped in a fierce fire in his flat in Glasgow’s Gorbals in 2009.

Speaking from her ground floor flat in Cranhill in the north-east of the city, Annette, 33, said: “My heart goes out to the families in London.

“As I watched the fire unfold on TV last week I had to turn away because it brought back terrifying memories of trying to save my dad. I know what the families are going through and want to send them my sincere condolence­s.”

Recalling the tragedy eight years ago, Annette said she and her partner found her dad conscious but unable to move.

She added: “The fire in our Waddell Court home spread so fast dad stood no chance.

“He just kept staring into space as though the smoke had confused him.

“My partner and I tried to move him but couldn’t.

“Dad just managed to say, ‘Go and save your lives.’

“I now live in a ground floor flat because I can not bear to stay any higher.

“I never want ever to struggle in smoke wondering how to escape from a high-rise fire.

“It is terrifying because every choking breath feels like your last. Even after years of trying to recover emotionall­y I still suffer from the memories of the fire.”

She and her partner were rehoused in a temporary flat where she could see the burned remnants of the fire scene.

“I pleaded to be placed in a house anywhere else in the city,” she said.

“I couldn’t bear to see where dad died. We can only hope that the London families are treated with more compassion than I was.”

At the time, Area Commander Garry Milne – one of the officers in charge during the incident – said: “In my 20-plus years in the fire service I have never seen such a fierce fire.

“Our firefighte­rs were magnificen­t in the way that they fought their way through intense heat and smoke to tackle the blaze.”

Neighbours confused by the smoke had to be given breathing masks by firefighte­rs leading them to safety. Now, as investigat­ions into the Grenfell Tower fire begin, many living in tower blocks wonder how safe they really are.

“Lessons have to be learned because people matter,” said Annette, pictured left. “Losing a loved one is incredibly painful and it cannot go on.”

Waddell Court tenant Lyn sey Nixon ,32, is another resident with serious safety concerns.

She said: “As the mum of two young girls I need to know I live in a safe home. I cannot understand why our flats do not have a sprinkler system installed.

“Many people around here want to know how safe they are.”

Last night, a spokesman for Glasgow Housing Associatio­n, which managed Waddell Court at the time of the fire, said: “After the fire at Waddell Court, we improved fire-stopping measures.”

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