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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/03/grenfell-tenants-were-bullied-during-refurbishment-says-fire-survivor
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| Grenfell tenants were bullied during refurbishment, says fire survivor | Grenfell tenants were bullied during refurbishment, says fire survivor |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One of the last people to escape Grenfell Tower has claimed residents were bullied by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) during the refurbishment of the block which left gaps around windows that allowed his flat to fill with smoke. | One of the last people to escape Grenfell Tower has claimed residents were bullied by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) during the refurbishment of the block which left gaps around windows that allowed his flat to fill with smoke. |
| Antonio Roncolato, who lived in flat 72 on the 10th floor for 27 years, was the first resident to give evidence to the public inquiry into the disaster, which claimed 72 lives. He described being trapped in the tower for more than six hours and said there was gaseous smoke, like “you’re going into a gas chamber”. | |
| Roncolato, a hotel worker, told the inquiry that before the fire residents were unhappy about plans to relocate gas boilers in the building’s corridors and that some were bullied into accepting what they feared was a safety risk. He also said that as part of the same refurbishment the landlord removed a 24-hour concierge service in the tower because it would cost too much to continue. | Roncolato, a hotel worker, told the inquiry that before the fire residents were unhappy about plans to relocate gas boilers in the building’s corridors and that some were bullied into accepting what they feared was a safety risk. He also said that as part of the same refurbishment the landlord removed a 24-hour concierge service in the tower because it would cost too much to continue. |
| He described how residents had meetings with the council landlord but “the TMO was very resistant to coming to these and when they did, the meetings were often tense and residents would walk out”. | He described how residents had meetings with the council landlord but “the TMO was very resistant to coming to these and when they did, the meetings were often tense and residents would walk out”. |
| The TMO finally agreed to put some boilers in the flats, but “for those residents who did not speak up, they were bullied into having the new boiler installed in the hallway by the front door”. | The TMO finally agreed to put some boilers in the flats, but “for those residents who did not speak up, they were bullied into having the new boiler installed in the hallway by the front door”. |
| Roncolato shared the flat with his son Christopher, who was working at the same hotel on the night of the fire. He showed the inquiry pictures of his flat before the fire with a cushion on the sofa saying “keep calm and relax”, pot plants and a globe. | Roncolato shared the flat with his son Christopher, who was working at the same hotel on the night of the fire. He showed the inquiry pictures of his flat before the fire with a cushion on the sofa saying “keep calm and relax”, pot plants and a globe. |
| There was an “amazing view, right through to the city, you would see the iconic landmarks of London”, he said. | There was an “amazing view, right through to the city, you would see the iconic landmarks of London”, he said. |
| The building was refurbished with new cladding and windows in 2016, but after the building work he noticed a draught coming in around the closed windows. | The building was refurbished with new cladding and windows in 2016, but after the building work he noticed a draught coming in around the closed windows. |
| He packed one of the gaps with plastic filler to stop the cold. He had asked the main contractor, Rydon, to sort it out, but got on with it himself rather than wait. The inquiry has previously heard that plastic fillers used around the windows and the new cladding panels helped spread the fire. | He packed one of the gaps with plastic filler to stop the cold. He had asked the main contractor, Rydon, to sort it out, but got on with it himself rather than wait. The inquiry has previously heard that plastic fillers used around the windows and the new cladding panels helped spread the fire. |
| He had gone to bed before 10pm. The fire started shortly before 12.54am but he was woken at 1.42am by a call from his son. | He had gone to bed before 10pm. The fire started shortly before 12.54am but he was woken at 1.42am by a call from his son. |
| “Christopher was crying and said ‘get out of the house, the tower’s burning, I love you Pappy get out’,” he said. | “Christopher was crying and said ‘get out of the house, the tower’s burning, I love you Pappy get out’,” he said. |
| On the ground he could hear people shouting “get out”. | On the ground he could hear people shouting “get out”. |
| “But there were others shouting to ‘stay put’,” he said. “I did not know what to think.” He was not aware that the building had a “stay put” policy. | “But there were others shouting to ‘stay put’,” he said. “I did not know what to think.” He was not aware that the building had a “stay put” policy. |
| He heard a “clean, crispy crackling noise” like dry wood burning and flaming and smoking debris fell past his window. One piece came through his kitchen window so he closed it, dressed, packed a rucksack with his laptop, some watches, cash and his and Christopher’s passports, and prepared to flee. | He heard a “clean, crispy crackling noise” like dry wood burning and flaming and smoking debris fell past his window. One piece came through his kitchen window so he closed it, dressed, packed a rucksack with his laptop, some watches, cash and his and Christopher’s passports, and prepared to flee. |
| But when he opened his door, which was hot to the touch, “very, very thick smoke came billowing in and hit me in the face. It was pitch black. My eyes were stinging; I was almost crying. It was impossible to breathe.” His flat door was only two metres from the staircase door but he thought he would die if he went out there. He went back inside and waited to be rescued. | But when he opened his door, which was hot to the touch, “very, very thick smoke came billowing in and hit me in the face. It was pitch black. My eyes were stinging; I was almost crying. It was impossible to breathe.” His flat door was only two metres from the staircase door but he thought he would die if he went out there. He went back inside and waited to be rescued. |
| His son then sent him a picture of the tower on fire, which shocked him. He resolved again to try to escape but knew “one mistake would be fatal”. On the phone, a fire officer then told him to wait. By 2.30am, smoke had started pouring through the bottom of a living room window and then another window. He was shocked because the windows were supposed to be airtight, but wet some towels to try and block the gaps. He was breathing in the smoke and his eyes were burning. | His son then sent him a picture of the tower on fire, which shocked him. He resolved again to try to escape but knew “one mistake would be fatal”. On the phone, a fire officer then told him to wait. By 2.30am, smoke had started pouring through the bottom of a living room window and then another window. He was shocked because the windows were supposed to be airtight, but wet some towels to try and block the gaps. He was breathing in the smoke and his eyes were burning. |
| “I wet a fabric napkin and put it over my nose and mouth and went into my bedroom to breathe in some fresh air from the window.” He opened another window and the smoke cleared. He then called his night manager at work to say he wouldn’t be able to come in as he was trapped. “He told me not to worry about work and ‘to get the hell out of there’.” | “I wet a fabric napkin and put it over my nose and mouth and went into my bedroom to breathe in some fresh air from the window.” He opened another window and the smoke cleared. He then called his night manager at work to say he wouldn’t be able to come in as he was trapped. “He told me not to worry about work and ‘to get the hell out of there’.” |
| “Throughout the night Christopher kept calling me telling me he loved me and to make sure I was OK,” he said. “I told him that it was not my time and I needed him to be strong. I was trying to reassure him.” | “Throughout the night Christopher kept calling me telling me he loved me and to make sure I was OK,” he said. “I told him that it was not my time and I needed him to be strong. I was trying to reassure him.” |
| At about 4am he tried to leave again, but was beaten back by the smoke and could hear screaming and banging from the stairwell. Water started coming through his ceiling from the flat above where the resident had opened their taps. | At about 4am he tried to leave again, but was beaten back by the smoke and could hear screaming and banging from the stairwell. Water started coming through his ceiling from the flat above where the resident had opened their taps. |
| “I saw a fireman on a ladder or a platform at the same height as my flat,” he said. “He was directing water towards the top of the tower. I initially thought he had come to rescue me, but he shouted it was too dangerous for him to come closer as debris was still continuing to fall from above. He shouted “mate, stay put, someone will come and get you’.” | “I saw a fireman on a ladder or a platform at the same height as my flat,” he said. “He was directing water towards the top of the tower. I initially thought he had come to rescue me, but he shouted it was too dangerous for him to come closer as debris was still continuing to fall from above. He shouted “mate, stay put, someone will come and get you’.” |
| “I kept thinking if I remained calm and acted rationally that I would come out of this alive,” he said. He even ate the porridge he had set out for his breakfast to keep up his strength. | “I kept thinking if I remained calm and acted rationally that I would come out of this alive,” he said. He even ate the porridge he had set out for his breakfast to keep up his strength. |
| At 5.46am he called his son who said he was going to be rescued and urged him to wear a pair of his swimming goggles. Just before 6am two firefighters knocked on his door. He put on the goggles, zipped up his jacket and put on a cap. One of the firefighters replaced the cap with a wet towel. | At 5.46am he called his son who said he was going to be rescued and urged him to wear a pair of his swimming goggles. Just before 6am two firefighters knocked on his door. He put on the goggles, zipped up his jacket and put on a cap. One of the firefighters replaced the cap with a wet towel. |
| It was very hot and he couldn’t see a thing but the firefighters led him very quickly down the stairs. | It was very hot and he couldn’t see a thing but the firefighters led him very quickly down the stairs. |
| “I could feel a lot of debris and what felt like mud under my feet,” he said. “There was water and debris coming down from above us and the stairs were wet and slippery. I could hear the water cascading down the stairs.” | “I could feel a lot of debris and what felt like mud under my feet,” he said. “There was water and debris coming down from above us and the stairs were wet and slippery. I could hear the water cascading down the stairs.” |
| “As I reached the last steps the towel was taken off me,” he said. “It was such a relief to finally make it to the bottom of the tower. The two firemen that rescued me immediately turned back around and started going back up the stairs. I did not get a chance to thank them.” | “As I reached the last steps the towel was taken off me,” he said. “It was such a relief to finally make it to the bottom of the tower. The two firemen that rescued me immediately turned back around and started going back up the stairs. I did not get a chance to thank them.” |
| “I was one of the lucky ones, especially after being trapped for so long. I could have so easily been one of the 72 people that needlessly died. If it had not been for Christopher calling me, I would not have known about the fire.” | “I was one of the lucky ones, especially after being trapped for so long. I could have so easily been one of the 72 people that needlessly died. If it had not been for Christopher calling me, I would not have known about the fire.” |
| The inquiry continues. | The inquiry continues. |
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