“Goodbye! We are now leaving this world. Goodbye! I hope I haven’t disappointed you. Goodbye to all!”
Those were the final words of London chauffeur Mohammed Neda as he called his loved ones on his mobile phone, realising that he was not going to escape the inferno engulfing Grenfell Tower.
After helping others to safety, Mohammed, found himself on the top floor of the block with no way out.
His testimony was the first of dozens being heard by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Headed by retired judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, the first two weeks of the investigation listened to tributes from the family and friends of those who died in the tragedy.
Seventy-one people lost their lives in the fire that swept through Grenfell Tower in west London on June 14 last year. Another died seven months later.
The inquiry into the disaster opened with 72 seconds of silence –- one of each of the victims of the blaze.
As he opened the hearing, Sir Martin said: “In terms of loss of life the fire was the single greatest tragedy to befall this city since the end of the Second World War.
“When we die, we live on in the memories of those who knew and loved us. It is fitting therefore that the opening hearings... should be dedicated to the memory of those who died.
“They will be remembered by the words and pictures chosen by the people who knew them best and loved them most, their families and friends.”
One of those latest tributes came from Ahmed Elgwahry, whose mother Elsah and sister Mariem lost consciousness while on the phone to him.
He told the sixth day of the inquiry: “She [Elsa]was struggling for breath and said her last words, ‘I can't breathe, I can't breathe’. She was so frightened, that she had not spoken prior to this.”
He added that he could hear the fire closing in after his mother and sister lost consciousness.
Mr Elgwahry added: “It was my decision to disconnect the call, almost an hour after they had gone. I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, somebody would rescue them.
“I had to listen to them suffer, I had to listen to them die... if that is not torture, I do not know what is.”
