Fleeing barefoot to escape Grenfell inferno
EXTRAORDINARY footage of residents fleeing Grenfell Tower has been played at the inquiry into the blaze which killed 72.
One set of CCTV pictures show Behailu Kebede, 45, who lived in the flat where the blaze broke out, walking barefoot down the stairs looking at his phone after knocking on every fourth-floor door to warn neighbours.
In another harrowing scene, a woman with a heavy suitcase is seen at the top of a flight of stairs as the fire took hold.
For the first time, sections of Mr Kebede’s 999 call were translated from Amharic. The Ethiopianborn taxi driver could be heard saying: “Grab it and leave, just leave. What kind of person is she?”
Counsel to the inquiry Richard Millett told the London hearing his words were directed to Almaz Kinfu, one of two female housemates. She was seen sitting on the stairwell next to a large silver suitcase with clothes on top for more than 10 minutes as residents fled and firefighters passed her by.
The hearing into last June’s North Kensington blaze goes on.