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Grenfell Tower fire inquiry: tributes continue on day six – live Grenfell Tower fire inquiry: tributes continue on day six – live
(about 1 hour later)
Berkti was 10 weeks pregnant when she died in fire, the inquiry is being told in a statement read out on behalf of the family.
They have no doubt that she was cradling her son as the fire and smoke closed in and it was of some small consolation that he would have been looking at her face as they left this world.
Berkti was born in Eritrea as one of 11 children. The early ears in Eritrea and in Ethiopia as the family moved between both countries in search of safety at a time of war.
As a result of the war and the family having to move, Berkti never really had the opportunities in education that children have now. What she lost was made up by the abundance of love around her.
She learned swiftly to become a mother after the birth of her first son and loved him with all her heart and soul. As conditions in the Horn of Africa deteriorated the family started to disperse across the world. She was a young woman and to flee with her son would have been too difficult.
She made the heartbreaking decision to leave her two year old son with her own mother as she was at risk of the violations against young women of her age at that time.
The family add that they would like to thank the UK for providing safety and shelter to the family, resulting in Berkti and her sisters being reunited again there.
When she first came she initially settled in Kilburn, later moving to Wood Green, and lived there with her newborn son Biruk. She was so happy eventually to have a home of their own in the Grenfell Tower. It was a place that was filled with the love and laughter of a baby boy.
One of Berkti’s sons is now speaking about his mother, with whom he said that he would communicate only by phone when he was living in Ertirea.
“She had such a nice voice,” he says, through tears.
When his grandmother died in 2016 his mother was very worried about him because he could not cope on his own. She promised that he would soon be with her.
“When I remember her promise, her voice, you can’t even imagine how I feel. I was looking forward towards living with my mum and little brother but the fire changed everything.
“I thought that I was dreaming when I was told that my mum died in a fire and my brother died in fire, but it was real. To lose someone in this kind of way is the worst possible thing imaginable.”
“I did not even have a chance to say good bye. What makes me feel hopeless is that I will never see my mum again.”
The family are learning to appreciate the small things that they normally ignore in their every day life and be grateful, adds Berkti’s sister.
Maybe this is what they have learned after the deaths in Grenfell Tower, she adds, as images of Berkti and Biruk are projected on the inquiry’s screens.
“Let us hope that what happened will not happen to anyone again.”
We are now listening to tributes to Berkti Haftom, 29, and Biruk Haftom, 12, a mother and son who lived on one of the upper floors of the tower.
One of Berkti’s sisters, reading from a statement, says that her sister fled Eritrea in search of safety, only to die in Grenfell.
“It’s like being shot again and again and again,” she says of the family’s pain.
Proceedings at the Grenfell inquiry are about to get underway again after a break. In the meantime, you can read the full story filed earlier by my colleague Owen Bowcott.
The brother of a Grenfell Tower victim kept a phone line open to his sister and mother until the moment they suffocated, trapped by flames and smoke on the top floors of the building.
On the sixth day of commemoration hearings, Ahmed Elgwahry told the inquiry how he remained in touch with his 27-year-old sister, Mariem, and his mother Eslah as the fire engulfed the high-rise flats.
With his voice occasionally overcome by emotion, Ahmed recalled how he had spent the earlier part of the evening with Mariem, a marketing manager, before she returned to her home in Grenfell where she cared for their mother, whose health was declining.
Her friends remembered Mariem as always happy like “a ray of sunshine”, he said. “She was a beautiful, ambitious and talented woman. She wanted to succeed in her marketing career and she had fallen in love.”
The inquiry is now taking a break until 2.15.The inquiry is now taking a break until 2.15.
Isaac’s name means ‘joy, happiness and love,’ his father recalls. Isaac’s name means “joy, happiness and love”, his father recalls.
“I was really happy, proud and grateful until June 14, 2017, but now my joy has gone,” he adds.“I was really happy, proud and grateful until June 14, 2017, but now my joy has gone,” he adds.
Paulos says that he is now worried for his other son, Lucas, who now looks away whenever he sees a photograph of Isaac. Paulos says that he is worried for his other son, Lucas, who now looks away whenever he sees a photograph of Isaac.
Isaac’s mother concludes the video commemoration by asking god to look after her son. There is applause and a standing ovation from those present. Isaac’s mother concludes the video commemoration by asking God to look after her son. There is applause and a standing ovation from those present.
Isaac was very proud of his background, his Ethiopian heritage and his ability to speak both English and Amharic, his teachers recall.Isaac was very proud of his background, his Ethiopian heritage and his ability to speak both English and Amharic, his teachers recall.
He was also devoted to his parents. Two pictures are shown - one of Isaac as a child and one of his father. His father talks of how his son used to block the corridor out of their flat and say: ‘no daddy you are not leaving me’. He was also devoted to his parents. Two pictures are shown - one of Isaac as a child and one of his father. His father talks of how his son used to block the corridor out of their flat and say: “No Daddy, you are not leaving me.”
Nathan, Isaac’s best friend, also appears on the video message, saying: “I never got the chance to say goodbye, to say that I love you.”Nathan, Isaac’s best friend, also appears on the video message, saying: “I never got the chance to say goodbye, to say that I love you.”
One of his teachers recalls Isaac’s numerical ability, an area where he had a particular aptitude.One of his teachers recalls Isaac’s numerical ability, an area where he had a particular aptitude.
Out of his group of classmates, she recalls: “He was a shining star who not only had the intellectual capacity but the emotional maturity that could take him far in life.”Out of his group of classmates, she recalls: “He was a shining star who not only had the intellectual capacity but the emotional maturity that could take him far in life.”
Isaac’s teacher, Judith Rashed, speaks some of the words of Isaac himself, who told of the toys which he enjoyed and the home that he loved. Isaac’s teacher Judith Rashed tells of the toys that he enjoyed and the home that he loved.
The little boy loved Arsenal football club. When he was two, his mother had suggested that he followed Chelsea, but the boy had chosen the Gunners. The little boy loved Arsenal football club. When he was two, his mother had suggested that he follow Chelsea, but the boy had chosen the Gunners.
Friends also speak of him and say that he had wanted to be a doctor, or a footballer. His favourite place was the outdoor park where he played in the sand and with the toys there. Friends also speak of him and say that he had wanted to be a doctor, or a footballer. His favourite place was the outdoor park where he played in the sand and with the toys.
A teacher says that he was friendly with everyone in the school. A classmate reads out a message saying that Isaac would forever be in his hear. A teacher says that he was friendly with everyone in the school. A classmate reads out a message saying that Isaac would forever be in his heart.
A teacher says: “He was very caring with his friends. He was tying a superman cape around the neck of one of them and said ‘ I can’t tie it too tight because it’s dangerous’ and I thought that was so caring for a little boy.” A teacher says: “He was very caring with his friends. He was tying a superman cape around the neck of one of them and said ‘I can’t tie it too tight because it’s dangerous’ and I thought that was so caring for a little boy.”
From the outset he seemed like an average five year old boy who went to school and had friends but Isaac was much more than that, according to a young friend of the family. From the outset he seemed like an average five-year-old boy who went to school and had friends, but Isaac was much more than that, according to a young friend of the family.
She says: “He did everything with passion and joy. He never forgot about this friends. He never flaunted his talents. He never wanted to leave our house. He was like the perfect brother to me.”She says: “He did everything with passion and joy. He never forgot about this friends. He never flaunted his talents. He never wanted to leave our house. He was like the perfect brother to me.”
The video commemoration is now running.The video commemoration is now running.
Finally, there was a knock at the door of the family’s flat and a fireman told them to stay put but insulate the bottom of the door.Finally, there was a knock at the door of the family’s flat and a fireman told them to stay put but insulate the bottom of the door.
Another 45 minutes passed before they were advised to leave. He says that he has given a statement about what happened then.Another 45 minutes passed before they were advised to leave. He says that he has given a statement about what happened then.
All that he will say is that he has nothing left to live for but to fight for the truth.All that he will say is that he has nothing left to live for but to fight for the truth.
“I feel as though my head has been cut off. As if I am dead. But I have to live for my [other] son,” he says. He asks himself questions again and again about how events could have been different.“I feel as though my head has been cut off. As if I am dead. But I have to live for my [other] son,” he says. He asks himself questions again and again about how events could have been different.
“What if that fireman who at around 2am had taken us out instead of telling us to wait and shut the door?”“What if that fireman who at around 2am had taken us out instead of telling us to wait and shut the door?”
“If I had not listened to the fire brigade my son would have been here,” he says concluding his statement by paying tribute to the little boy who brought so much love and joy into their life.“If I had not listened to the fire brigade my son would have been here,” he says concluding his statement by paying tribute to the little boy who brought so much love and joy into their life.
Isaac was the family’s first born and was a great son, his father Paulos Petakle says.Isaac was the family’s first born and was a great son, his father Paulos Petakle says.
Great things were expected of him, but they would never know how his life would be lived, his father adds.Great things were expected of him, but they would never know how his life would be lived, his father adds.
He recalls the night of the fire after he had said good night to his children on the eighteenth floor. He recalls the night of the fire after he had said good night to his children on the 18th floor.
There were people running in panic in the corridor. He called the fire brigade and was asked to stay.There were people running in panic in the corridor. He called the fire brigade and was asked to stay.
“Every day I ask myself the same question. Would my son be here if I had not listened and had decided to go,” he says.“Every day I ask myself the same question. Would my son be here if I had not listened and had decided to go,” he says.
On the night of fire, as the minutes ticked by, he had called the fire service again and again but got the advice to remain in place even though friends and family were telling them to leave.On the night of fire, as the minutes ticked by, he had called the fire service again and again but got the advice to remain in place even though friends and family were telling them to leave.
Isaac was following him around the flat. The Isaac was following him around the flat.
Trigger Warning: We are told that the livestream will show part of the interior of the tower at one point.Trigger Warning: We are told that the livestream will show part of the interior of the tower at one point.
These are the trigger warnings for some of the video content which is planned for today - hard copies are available in the hearing room. These will also be read out in the hearing room prior to the video being screened. pic.twitter.com/rdC6pnH9wY
We are now going to hear a tribute to Isaac Paulos, five, who went missing as he and his family tried to escape the fire.We are now going to hear a tribute to Isaac Paulos, five, who went missing as he and his family tried to escape the fire.
Gloria’s mother says that she is really hoping that the person who took the decision to put the cladding on the tower is feeling the pain that is evident.Gloria’s mother says that she is really hoping that the person who took the decision to put the cladding on the tower is feeling the pain that is evident.
She is also hopeful that what happened in Grenfell will be used as a model for decision makers and for future generations when it comes to understanding and knowing how life should be respected.She is also hopeful that what happened in Grenfell will be used as a model for decision makers and for future generations when it comes to understanding and knowing how life should be respected.
She was going to say a lot more but adds that she gets the sense that what has been said before is almost like hearing the “story of Gloria.” Their pain is also her pain.She was going to say a lot more but adds that she gets the sense that what has been said before is almost like hearing the “story of Gloria.” Their pain is also her pain.
She urges everyone to feel anger rather than hate in order for that anger to be a catalyst towards establishing the truth of what happened. There is applause as she finishes speaking.She urges everyone to feel anger rather than hate in order for that anger to be a catalyst towards establishing the truth of what happened. There is applause as she finishes speaking.
We are hearing now from Gloria’s mother, who tells the inquiry that she can feel a lot of pain in the room.We are hearing now from Gloria’s mother, who tells the inquiry that she can feel a lot of pain in the room.
She says that she taught her children not to hate, but that she feels a lot of anger inside her.She says that she taught her children not to hate, but that she feels a lot of anger inside her.
“I hope this anger is going to be a positive anger. I would like this anger to help to find out the truth of what happened,” she says through an interpreter.“I hope this anger is going to be a positive anger. I would like this anger to help to find out the truth of what happened,” she says through an interpreter.
“The pain we are feeling inside is indescribable but knowing that there are people in this country working to find the truth is of some consolation.”“The pain we are feeling inside is indescribable but knowing that there are people in this country working to find the truth is of some consolation.”
Gloria was a girl full of life and although she missed the sun, food and Italy in general she was happily settled in the UK, her mother says.Gloria was a girl full of life and although she missed the sun, food and Italy in general she was happily settled in the UK, her mother says.