‘The generosity of strangers at Grenfell was amazing’
I told myself to focus, there was a job to be done
On 14 June, a fire broke out in Grenfell Tower in west London. Flames engulfed the 24-storey building, killing at least 80 people. Dr Chrissie Hymers, Consultant in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine working with London’s Air Ambulance, was there
In the most harrowing of times, we always see the best in people. At Grenfell, local pubs opened up and served tea to the survivors and emergency services – even in the early hours of the morning. The number of locals – many of whom had also been evacuated from their houses – who offered us drinks and bacon sandwiches was absolutely incredible. I was amazed by the kindness of strangers. I was alerted about the Grenfell fire at 2.20am. The helicopters only fly in daylight, so our doctor and paramedic teams sped across London in our rapid response cars, arriving to an array of emergency service vehicles, billowing smoke and huge flames. From the moment I arrived, I could feel the heat from the fire. All around, people were shouting for their loved ones. I had never seen anything like it.
I needed to focus, as there was a job to be done. People were fleeing from both sides of the tower, and there was a palpable sense of panic from the survivors. The fire brigade had cordoned off the most dangerous area closest to the building. Behind that we set up an area where people were brought to be triaged and assessed for injuries, and beyond was another cordon, to ensure the safety of the public.
We had to make quick assessments. Those with life-threatening injuries were prioritised to go to hospital, while others needed immediate treatment for smoke inhalation and burns. In some cases, we knew that the effects of the smoke could lead to serious airway complications. We gave oxygen where needed, and blankets to those who were wet and shivering from the water of the fire brigade’s hoses. We tried to reunite families where possible, but there was a lot of confusion and fear. That night, the team I was working with triaged and assessed approximately 60 people. I remember looking up at the tower, the blaze still raging, knowing with a sad certainty the dwindling chances that anyone else still in the building would be able to survive.
I stayed at Grenfell until about two in the afternoon. Driving home, the enormity of what I had witnessed began to hit me. I couldn’t help but put myself in the victims’ shoes; to imagine how terrifying it must have been, knowing you are trapped with such a small chance of escape. So many families had lost their homes and loved ones; their lives were completely destroyed. It was heartbreaking.
Being at Grenfell was an incredibly emotional experience. I relied heavily on my colleagues, friends and family afterwards to help me come to terms psychologically with the tragic
circumstances, and while we all have an inbuilt resilience, it can take time to move on from such trauma. However, the main thing to remember is that by being there, we’ve made a difference. London’s Air Ambulance is a charity. To find out how you can help, visit londonsairambulance.co.uk