'GOODBYE TO ALL'
Haunting final phone call of Grenfell Tower dad who jumped to his death to escape the flames
THE haunting final phone call of a dad who jumped to his death during the Grenfell blaze was played in court today.
Mohamed Amied Neda, 57, told family: "Goodbye, we are leaving this world now".
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He died after reportedly jumping from his top floor flat to escape the flames - having fled the Taliban in Afghanistan to find a safer home in Britain years earlier.
The chilling recording went on: "I hope I haven't disappointed you. Goodbye to all."
The chauffeur had lived in flat 205 on floor 23 since 2009.
Mohamed's wife Flora, and his son, Farhad, fell into comas after escaping the deadly inferno in west London on June 14.
His heartbroken brother, who called Mohamed Saber, described him as his "best friend".
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A statement read on his behalf at today's hearing added: "Losing Saber was like my world came crashing down. I have faced many blows in life, losing many family members, but this was the worst.
"The way in which the fire happened, his death, and the sudden severity of it all left me with so many questions and a big void in my life that I have still not come to terms with."
The statement said Mohamed sacrificed himself in the fire to save others.
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His wife, Flora, and son, Farhad were in comas after escaping the inferno.
She said, also via a statement: "He was my best friend, I miss him so much.
"He will always be the love of my life."
Earlier today, the dad of Grenfell's youngest victim today broke down as he relived the harrowing moment he held his dead son and hoped "it was all a bad dream".
Emotional Marcio Gomes told the inquiry - which opened this morning - how he learnt his "superstar" baby boy was stillborn as his wife and daughter lay in comas after escaping the flames from the 21st floor.
He sobbed while showing pictures of the nursery he had prepared for Logan, lovingly adorned with the words "twinkle, twinkle, little star, do you know how loved you are?"
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Their life, and hundreds of others changed forever as flames tore through the west London tower block on June 14 last year.
The Grenfell inquiry opened today with 72 poignant seconds of silence, as those in the room stood to pay tribute to every victim of the fire.
Hundreds were made homeless and dozens killed in the horrifying fire, which quickly and fiercely engulfed the building full of sleeping families.
Chairman, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, described the devastating blaze as "the city's greatest tragedy since World War Two" in a powerful opening statement to the inquiry.
In a powerful statement names of all the dead are to be read out, as the stories of six lives cut short begins a fortnight of emotional statements from the bereaved - baby Logan, Denis Murphy, Mohamed Amied Neda, Joseph Daniels and mother and daughter Mary Mendy and Khadija Saye were today remembered.
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Dennis Murphy, 56
Dennis Murphy had been living on the 14th floor of the Grenfell Tower when the blaze took hold.
His family said they had managed to speak to him in the early hours of the morning of the tragedy, not realising that it would be the last time they would hear his voice.
Sister Anne Marie said they only had a handful of coins left to remember him by.
Struggling not to break down in tears, Anne Marie told the inquest: “Ever since Dennis has been gone, there’s a gaping hole in our hearts that cannot be filled.
“It really hurts and we can’t imagine a day when it will hurt any less.
“The pain loss and sorrow we feel is indescribable.
"We as a family feel strongly that there is no reason in the world why anyone should have death forced upon them in such a horrific way.
"The day Denis died, a part of all of us died too."
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Saber Neda, 57
The son of Grenfell victim Saber Neda said he was devastated that his "calm and kind" dad would not be at his upcoming wedding.
Farhad, 24, who had been left in a coma after the fire, said: "It causes us deep pain to think that my dad will not be there, and will not hold his future grandchildren in his arms, as he has held and protected me."
The grieving son told the inquiry that his dad had always greeted his neighbours in the tower, and believed that he had stayed behind at their 23rd floor home to help others escape the blaze.
Saber ran his own chauffeuring business for the ten years before his death.
The young man said his dad would never be forgotten, saying: "He will always be behind us."
Saber's wife Flora, who had escaped the blaze with the couple's son. said she had fallen in love with her husband "at first sight".
She said: "Our hopes and dreams have been shattered.
"There is a heavy sense of loss in our hearts, which will never, ever go away."
She added: "He will always be the love of my life."
The inquiry was also played Saber's last voice recording.
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Joseph Daniels
His son spoke briefly and powerfully, after asking for no applause to follow his statement.
He said: “My father Joseph Daniels moved to London in 1982 and Grenfell Tower had been his only home since then.
“That night took his life and all trace of his existence in this world.
“He stood no chance of getting out. It should never have happened”
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Mary Mendy and Khadija Saye
The niece of carer Mary Mendy told the inquiry about the "fateful night where our lives changed forever".
She said: "She was my mum as well as my aunt. For the first time in my life, my aunt is not a phonecall away."
"She made it a passion to help those less fortunate than herself.
"On the night of June 14, 2017, our family lost two much loved members.
"My aunt was the strong one, the fighter and the protection. The pain is unbearable.
"There are no words to describe the emptiness in our hearts."
Another niece added: "There will be two empty chairs at the table at every birthday and Christmas.
"Although the pain feels like forever, it will soon be replaced by happiness, all of the tears will be replaced by joy.
"Until we meet again."
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Khadija, who was just 24 years old when she died, was described by her father in a statement as being "very gentle, very kind and very friendly".
The inquiry ended today with a film made after she died detailing a journey to Venice where she exhibited some photographs.
In it she spoke of her joy at finally becoming an artist after winning a scholarship to study at prestigious Rugby School.
She said: "That was an extreme contrast from my area in Ladbroke Grove.
“Everyone grew up in this opulence and opportunity and the skies the limit”
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Richard Millett QC, lead counsel to the inquiry, said: "Grenfell was a home.
"It was a human space for human lives, each unique - that is what a home is. For many who lived there, Grenfell wasn't a home but a place of refuge."
Some had come to London fleeing dangerous countries or simply sought out the city for its vibrancy, he continued. It was a community which "often stood together as a single voice demanding justice and dignity".
"And many of them died together," he added, movingly.
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The commemorations are taking place at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in south Kensington, a new venue closer to the Grenfell community - offering private rooms, a prayer room and counselling.
As the hearings are taking place during Ramadan, the morning sessions are expected to adjourn for lunch at 12.45pm to allow Muslims to prepare for the 1pm prayer.
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The rest of phase one of the inquiry will take place at Holborn Bars in central London, where several procedural hearings have already happened.
The probe is believed to have the largest number of core participants to date, with more than 500 survivors, bereaved families and friends, and members of the North Kensington community participating.
The main hearing room has a capacity for 500 people and bereaved, survivors and residents will be reserved seats at the front each day.
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