Grenfell mobile phone footage shows moment dad's flat filled with black smoke in new Netflix doc
Warning: This article contains graphic images and video which some readers may find distressing.
A new documentary focusing on the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower Fire has been released on Netflix, revealing the harrowing moment residents trapped inside saw their homes become filled with toxic, black smoke.
Grenfell: Uncovered focuses on the events leading to the horrific 2017 tragedy, the families and victims involved, as well as the ensuing investigation that has yet to come to a proper resolution for those invovled.
Eight years ago, a high-rise fire broke out in Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey block of flats located in North Kensington, West London, after an electrical fault in a refrigerator on the fourth floor.
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It started at 12:54am on 14 June 2017, and it would burn for a devastating 60 hours.
The incident would cost the lives of 72 people, with most dying at the scene while two made it to hospital but sadly did not survive the ordeal.
223 people would escape, though over 70 people were left with horrible injuries, in what is the UK's worst residential fire since World War II, during the Blitz.
Footage from inside the building during the fire was also included in the powerful Netflix documentary, with one in particular showing the desperation of the Gomes family.
Dad Marcio and daughter Luana spoke in the documentary, sharing their recollection of events, while they were trapped in their home in flat 183 on the 21st floor.
The family had lived in Grenfell for a decade and loved life in the area.
Marcio recalled that his wife Andreia was seven months pregnant with their son Logan, while also being asthmatic. Megan, Marcio's other daughter who was 10 at the time, was also asthmatic.
When the fire broke out, the fire brigade instructed the family to stay put, as that was the initial policy at the time whilst they were figuring out the situation.
Luana, who was just 12 at the time of the awful fire, recalled: "I remember my dad filling up the bathtub with water, and literally putting in so many towels, making sure they were drenched."
Marcio remembered the smoke that came from outside the room, which is played over footage of what he saw at the time, in the documentary.
"Each moment, things were getting worse and worse, to the point where (I opened) the door to see what was going on, and it was just smoke," he explained.
Describing the smoke as 'extremely thick' and 'black', he said that opening the door and trying to breath brought on a gag reflex, as it was ‘like it was chemically infused.'
He opened the door as the family were eventually told to make a bid for their escape by a call handler over the phone, though the smoke stopped them in their tracks.
Covered in wet blankets and towels, the entire family started to make their way out of the building, though Luana collapsed and passed out in the stair well, requiring resuscitation.
In the documentary, the call handler can be heard telling Marcio to 'go back upstairs and get your girls', as they were behind him.
Firefighters carried Luana out, while her father found his wife and Megan outside, with Luana being diagnosed with cyanide poisoning, and Luana, Megan and Andreia being placed into an induced coma.
A decision then had to be made to save Andreia or Logan, before she delivered her son as stillborn while in the coma, making Logan the 72nd victim of Grenfell.
Luana said that she remembers 'stepping on so many bodies' on their way down the smoke-riddled stairwell, and that she feels guilty for getting to live her life after what happened to so many other people in the building.
“You feel guilty, in a way. I feel guilty that I'm here living, doing my life... and they're not,” she stated.
Viewers of the documentary took to social media to continue to spread their support for the families of the Grenfell victims.
Many described the film as 'heartbreaking' and a 'tough watch', while others pointed out that no-one has been brought to justice following the fire to this day.
One user wrote: "The Grenfell doc on Netflix has me sobbing. My heart breaks once again."
Another added that it was a 'bloody hard watch' as the incident was 'unnecessary.'
It's been eight years since the devastating incident and still the only real action taken is the decision to tear down the tower.
The last inquiry report conducted on the Grenfell Tower fire concluded victims were 'badly failed', however, no arrests have been made.
Grenfell: Uncovered is available to stream on Netflix now.
Topics: Grenfell Tower, Netflix, London, Film, Documentaries, UK News
Joshua Nair