Escaping Grenfell Tower - through the eyes of a 12-year-old

Theresa May has admitted she will always regret she didn't meet the Grenfell Tower survivors the day after the disaster, in an effective apology to those who escaped the blaze. Like 12-year-old Naila El Guenuni, who managed to get out from her 18th floor flat, along with her younger brother and sister and pregnant mother. She lost three friends in the blaze, incuding Firdaws Hashim, who I met when I presented a debating trophy to her just weeks before the fire.
The family have since been supported by the charity Action for Children. Jon Snow went to meet Naila and asked her about her memories of that night.
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[@HassanPoyo]

what a strong young girl. So sorry for all the victims

[@husseini9335]

I blame the corolla taxi drivers and the drones.

[@summerannfaithhanna2050]

She goes to my school so so proud of her

[@nigelyanga197]

@CAVEMAN what did she do to you

[@nigelyanga197]

@CAVEMAN what continent do you live in then

[@mzmzmm410]

@CAVEMAN so yu don't care about what happened to this girl because she's a Muslim

[@C411UM19]

CAVEMAN - Such disrespect on this subject is disgusting, why focus on religion when such a devastating tragedy occurred?

[@mzmzmm410]

@CAVEMAN actually i liked her or his comment soo🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@outsidersongs2682]

I feel so much respect for this incredibly brave girl. Her poem is excellent too.

[@surayaNW]

i can’t believe all these horrible nasty comments, just because she wears a hijab doesn’t mean she’s on BENEFITS. She’s a 12 year old beautiful girl that almost lost her life, that went through trauma alongside her family and is still clearly not over the shock. Instead of leaving a nice comment that maybe she’ll read I’m seeing horrible comments about a TWELVE year old. Yes she wears hijab but she’s a BRITISH MUSLIM and Free to wear what she chooses to wear. She’s speaking better English than many white British people, she seems very educated & very British so instead of all the silly mean comments mainly from racist white people how about a nice comment about this lovely 12 year old who was very brave to speak about her story. Peace & Love ❤️

[@moominpug3298]

But Mike- of course its wrong to molest and harm girls - and justice is being served to the culprits. But where were the parents of these girls- why did they not care and not know what was happening to their children? there's a problem in largely white households where they don't really care what happens to their children- that too is an indictment of our society.Lovely poem by the girl here and best wishes to the Grenfell people.

[@cazstar1989]

Raya S was going to say the same. Can’t believe how many people don’t understand religion or culture either :-/ clearly Britain has a big issue with people learning incorrect information from memes rather than actual facts.

[@anisalatifa5149]

T Watt i think its you who is the pervert since you keep talking about Grooming little girls you sick dog

[@Freya262]

T Watt - that comment could be translated literally - immigrants have no right to rape them implies that others may have :-( Truth is that NO ONE regardless of racial background, skin tone, or even gender has the right to rape or sexually assault anyone... period. HOWEVER...... that is not what this video is about is it - it is about loss of life in a preventable fire.

[@yasmin6x]

T Watt Yes it is disgusting that people pretend to be others just so they can trick individuals like yourself into believing what is right is wrong 🙂

[@Neophema]

When a building is on fire, you LEAVE! I can't believe all these people were told to stay inside a BURNING building. Horrific.

[@astonishingpatch]

The owners of Grenfell were looneys for telling people to stay in their flats instead of escaping

[@mwahhha226]

because usually they can put fires on one side out quickly but they didn’t know the building was flammable everywhere

[@antoinkiely7972]

totally ... if building is on fire, never wait inside. get out straight away..

[@mollyazmr]

People can be truly cruel. You have no idea how traumatic the inferno was and how terrifying it must have been for those involved. Its easy for some people to type behind their keyboards and comment about how someone looks or what religion, race they are whilst survivors are grieving having lost everything. Try living in their shoes for a day and see how you manage to cope with the haunting flashbacks of thick black smoke, people falling from higher floors, echoing screams and blazing fire burning people alive. Compassion costs nothing, have a heart.

[@jonathanhadley2555]

You shouldnt tar everyone with the same brush

[@danielrichards4646]

Amen too that sir or madam. :)

[@realfrowz]

I agree sinsynth

[@Esthersarkisxo]

so heart breaking, still rooting for all the survivors and those who lost their lives on this tragic night, I hope justice will be served.

[@jonathanhadley2555]

It will be another Hilsborough:-(

[@champchampchannel8182]

Rest in peace to all those who have died. Things need to change. All lives are important not just some.

[@leehodge9741]

Nobody died .Nobody got hurt ...Just a TV show ! ..Wake up !

[@leehodge9741]

Mike Hunt .Ha ha ! Nice one chief !

[@Freya262]

Lee Hodge - pity they didn't ask you to take part. Maybe then you would learn a but of empathy......

[@yasmin6x]

T Watt people aren’t going to walk around naked just to please your liking

[@gashbinhagi6297]

lee hodge disrespectul af, get out of here

[@markacadey3313]

She was in a coma for 2 weeks!! 😱

[@crech6549]

T Watt racist and proud eh?

[@bellaxox6938]

T Watt your disgusting

[@nigelyanga197]

@CAVEMAN stfu

[@jonathanhadley2555]

T Watt another Nationalist Numpty bigot!

[@Shush-yk7xc]

T Watt go sym and get a life

[@anisalatifa5149]

Such a Beautiful, brave and strong Princess 🖤

[@jonathanhadley2555]

A Nationalist Numpty Bigot

[@akzmenz882]

T Watt i dont wish death on people but you make my blood boil

[@jw4818]

What a brave, mature beautiful young girl. You can see the pain in her eyes which breaks my heart

[@jenniferjoseph9530]

God bless all survivors. Still thinking about those who died R.I.P

[@englishrose8013]

That fire is engraved in my mind like it happened yesterday :( I sat all night watching the fire spread and just crying because all those people trapped including a friend of mines sister and children, we kept ringing but no answer, she and her children are among those who didn't make it out 😢 I'm so proud of this young girl and I'm happy her Mother didn't listen and stay put like they said to! I hope she goes on to live a very long happy life and I hope all those who lost their lives Rest Peacefully ❤️

[@Neophema]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend's sister and children. :(

[@englishrose8013]

@@Neophema thank you ❤️ still hard to believe this was even able to happen :( x

[@Hazel-ri1pk]

Thank God mum took the initiative. That’s a lot of floors to go down I know as I used to live on the 15th floor of a tower block 🙏🏽💯

[@jxsiah.7719]

Her poem is so emotional

[@hissheep6212]

She is such a brave girl. God bless and protect her family.

[@reeceboyle1905]

I'm her age and I can't even begin to imagine partly how bad this is. I feel very lucky I wasn't close

[@Ssoovw]

such a strong girl walahi

[@maiawilliams6743]

Dear Grenfell victims You are brave and you are strong Keep on holding on to life,You made it and you should be proud To all that died that are in heaven Be proud you’ve done well And bless all who are still alive Beautiful 12 year old girl How brave x Pray for her brother and her amazing mother I’m so great full you woke up I pray for all your friends and family who died 💕 Our father who art in heaven Hallowed we thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is on heaven Amen 🙏 From Maia,10yrs

[@fatima.j3224]

Beautifully spoken girl mashallah! Amazing poem and I hope inshallah you have a bright future ahead of you 😊

[@saidbenrahma9129]

Ameen Ya rabb

[@kjtamf]

I watch these to remind me life is much harder for others , they have lost a lot to , and suffered trauma that’s unimaginable, brave people 🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️

[@susanneyuk-pingpong8705]

Good luck to those still putting their lives back together after this tragedy.

[@CochinchineRaconteur]

Lovely girl. Thank God she survived. So sad that children were caught up in it. Terrible that it happened at all

[@jeaniejbutler4911]

Exactly it should have NEVER happened, all those who took shortcuts or used cheap materials that had been proven dangerous, should spend a yr in prison for each person who lost their life so horribly

[@pratigyat9289]

Praying for the families of the victims. This little girl is so brave. ❤

[@rickyparrilla2426]

I still can't believe no one has gone to jail for causing this disaster and they haven't started removing the cladding on other buildings to prevent more fires. Unbelievable. I am from Brooklyn, New York and I still can't believe this happened. It's absolutely crazy.

[@milo2324]

In England old high rise building are being rented to refugees and poor immigrants. THEY DO NOT HAVE SPRINKLE SYSTEM! And the government said, only new build buildings MUST have sprinkles. Also read this: Grenfell: owners of blocks with dangerous cladding to be named | UK news | The Guardian www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/20/grenfell-owners-of-blocks-with-dangerous-cladding-to-be-named

[@shhh3965]

I’m scared to go shops by myself and she did this that is amazing

[@aishaw6741]

that poem made me cry

[@mossboy7668]

Beautiful girl, how proud your family must be of you, wishing you and your family all the very best wishes in your life

[@user-do8tn2pb6o]

She sits next to me in school

[@txnv531]

Elite -TV she’s sits across from me in school

[@khalidelyedri8399]

So what's wrong with that

[@khalidelyedri8399]

If she sits next to you in school

[@yassirbakali5346]

I’m Yassir from kaa

[@royaldragon1175]

She bent over

[@jannah66]

Well done , your poem is beautiful like you masha Allah 🌸 keeping it halal xxx

[@roseprince3852]

We love you grenfell ♥️♥️ Lost but never forgotten 💜💜

[@shahreenghaffar4198]

Truly sad for all grenfell ..wish they all could be saved ...may they rip ...such a tragedy !

[@sakalielie]

Heart breaking!

[@adamoconnor1982]

Aww bless her 😭

[@AnythingWithAbeat]

I'm glad that her and her family made it out alive. She's so brave to speak about it, I don't know if I would have had the strength to 💚

[@AnythingWithAbeat]

Daz White oh yeahh I forgot about those. What was I thinking. That should be the first & only thing on my mind. Silly me. I could always go out and find other parents and siblings and make more friends. After I make the claims I'm sure everyone will be lining up to be my friend.

[@jonathanhadley2555]

It must have been a nightmare for those that were there:-(

[@deepposts1363]

That only just now hit me out of all the videos I’ve watched no one knew about the fire until they were notified about it by a family member or neighbour never a fire alarm🤨

[@jeaniejbutler4911]

It has been said by survivors that the fire alarms never went off.

[@summermsp4504]

Why Are People So Mean To her?Im not even a Muslim and Im not Being rude.I Feel sorry For Her .To all Those People Who are Being Rude to this Young Pretty girl would you like it if you died in the Grenfell tower no So Shut up!

[@jonathanhadley2555]

Nationalist Numpty Bigots who think they know it all & tar everyone with the same brush

[@rudolphasumda5052]

Your very mean .

[@mothiurNCL]

152 was the number on our door, We lived up high on the 18th floor, The flipped back smoke covered our vision, However, the only step was completing our mission, To escape the flames of growing full fire, To survive and expose the liars, Our mission was to escape the blaze, Our journey down was like a maze, The smoke alarms didn't go off, The only alarm was our neighbours knock, When we left the building I was so relieved, It was the moment I knew I could finally breathe. Are these the words?

[@israelmckenzie2295]

Yes

[@StCloud-ns7vt]

i dont understand why they were told to stay put. Its so infuriating

[@milo2324]

Because the flats are design to CONTAIN the fire, if you have the door on that flat that close itself. Check orher high tower fires in the UK. The fire never spreads to more than just next flat. But what happened was: CCTV shows barefoot Grenfell tenant fleeing fire that started in his flat after alerting neighbours and calling 999 www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/21/cctv-shows-barefoot-grenfell-tenant-fleeing-fire-started-flat/ During a lengthy statement of truth to the inquiry, dated June 1 2018, the former resident said he had complained about the quality of a window refit now blamed for fire's spread. Mr Kebede and nearly "everyone" in Grenfell Tower had been concerned about the quality of a recent refurbishment and had raised the issue with both the council and their MP. His kitchen window was replaced during the work, which "caused problems" as "air was entering my flat through these gaps" around the frame. Builders were sent around who "put sealant in the gaps". On Wednesday, the inquiry heard that this sealant was flammable. Experts believe the inferno on June 14 escaped through gaps around Mr Kebede's window on to the external facade. Mr Kebede, however, said he had "no idea" that "highly flammable cladding" had been installed on the outside of the building.

[@mwahhha226]

because mass escape would be chaos ppl would get trampled also usually they’re able to put fires out quickly

[@kieranboast6355]

We need to make all tower blocks properly fire safe. Good fire alarms, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers should be mandatory!

[@jonathanhadley2555]

They should always be if money can be made then thats a different story

[@fr4serrr]

I remembered seeing this in the news all of the time

[@ber2949]

i could NEVER stay so calm.NEVER

[@themaskedman517]

Innalilahi wa inallahi rajiun is so sad becasue thinking of how many children died and adults imagine hearing them screm😢😢😢😭😭 may the dead rest in peace

[@cliffbennett1658]

The Police and Fire brigade along with the Ambulence service were heroes that night.

[@jeaniejbutler4911]

Yes they were but I hope this caused the fire brigades to reassess their shelter in place protacol.

[@kavic1234]

Yet to come, what caused the fire, or maybe not depending on what caused the fire

[@hollyhunt9043]

Faulty fridge caused it

[@jai3255]

oh my god this is just heartbreaking

[@zed3063]

😭😭Poor girl, it’s appalling they told them to stay in the building.

[@hridi_]

Why were they asked to stay inside??? This reminds me of South Korea's ferry disaster where authority asked the students to stay inside their cabins.

[@giseleclaire80]

This girl is so brave 💗

[@Twilight24682]

No police firefighters and paramedics are brave not some immigrant

[@jonathanhadley2555]

I thjink that all those were brave that were there

[@Yasin_2312]

Black Wolf shut the f up

[@hiboxx5607]

​@@Twilight24682you don't even realise your being racist, calling any Muslim or coloured person u see, an immigrant, she's actually brave bcuz shes like 12 years old, who escaped the deadliest fire in the uk and survived, also lost her home

[@aircobraofficial7155]

The U.k fire brigade department is so dumb for saying to stay in the flat. Theres only one escape i think but they shouldnt have stayed in there.

[@lewisricekrispy2]

The stay put policy is written by the building owners, not by the fire brigade.

[@jonathanhadley2555]

And the Fire brigade werent aware of the dodgy cladding:-(

[@jw4818]

Her Poem is so poweful

[@jeaniejbutler4911]

Indeed it is...I really hope it is published somewhere for all to see. She seems to have a natural writing ability.

[@harmony6715]

I am really sad 😔

[@SahaRetreats]

What a beautiful, gifted and intelligent young girl.

[@MastooraBeautyProducts]

This is so 😔

[@lightcase377]

Their mum not trusting and running saved them

[@izz9267]

Dont listen to all those haters

[@jeroenjansen2709]

I wonder how many people could have been saved if they didn't give that ridiculous order to stay put

[@fatimaahmad8702]

Brave and beautiful girl.

[@kristinesharp6286]

72 died. 70 injured. Hundreds displaced. All started with a fridge. The outside building material was not appropriate. The fire department told them to stay. Maybe it the building had been renovated to code it would not have spread. Usually tragedies happen when multiple mistakes are made. The company that made the tile, company that bought the tile to install it illegally, the inspectors not aware it was not a legal tile..

[@jeaniejbutler4911]

its the inspectors job to BE AWARE. they along with so many others didnt do their job.

[@mikaelav8964]

im so upset they told them to stay inside

[@sickboisadventures]

What an exceptionally brave young lady

[@khalidelyedri8399]

Mashallah brave beautiful girl

[@Rrbb23]

The most awful thing that could ever happen

[@Life-db3tb]

Sad

[@themilesfamily736]

Sorry what happened to you and your family 🌈🌈🌈🌈🔥🔥🔥

[@emmajk7433]

So brave

[@oldhippy1017]

Ha Ha Ha you fucking idiot.

[@jonathanhadley2555]

Nationalist Numpty Bigot

[@jannah66]

Allahumma bereklaha habiba xx

[@dogsenseforu301]

HOW did MPs vote against improving fire conditions in UK rental properties?????

[@jonathanhadley2555]

Labour wanted to have a Bill that housing was actually fit for purpose the Torys didnt want it

[@icdgyixify]

So JRM was right then. No apology required?

[@jonathanhadley2555]

Those with a vested interest will never be found accoutable

[@Immy01]

Devastating

[@Elias_The_Piggy_Guy]

God bless u Naila .so brave

[@wendyalexander5342]

It's a tragedy..Great poem

[@kpopbombmusic]

Wut

[@sirajahmed9681]

Really brave and courageous little girl. I go over the flyover and see the building. It reminds me of just how much divide there is in a borough which is one of the richest in the world!!!

[@markacadey3313]

So sad 😞😪 what a brave young girl

[@mariethompson7533]

Keep strong young lady 😉

[@Nothinggirl]

Bless this girl. She is so smart and brave honestly. And what an amazing mom, she got her children out of there against all odds. I wonder how the neighbour fared. I pray one day the victims will receive some sort of justice.

[@maramshiikh8988]

I know who they are there from my school

[@Pocol0c0s]

R'I'P 😥😪😭

[@themilesfamily736]

Poor girl she is crying you can see it in her eyes 😳😳😳😳🗣🗣

[@unitnippynipz]

Must of been so scary, a bit like the people in the twin towers when they got attacked. Very scary situation.

[@supermecho3]

It was already written, no one could stop the will of Allah.

[@jonathanhadley2555]

Haunted for life:-(

[@fatimahussain8359]

❤

[@KatyStillings-ke5bv]

She's so brave ❤❤

[@emadmiah9188]

💚🕊

[@subswithNovideoChallenge-ks4oo]

I'm so happy that you left the tower😭😨😦 like I've seen other vids it taken to long until the cops came 😠😠😱😭😢😢

[@moniquejohnson1672]

💔💔

[@marywise7661]

so so sorry for your loss and the nightmare you must have went through someone needs to be held accountable for the tragedy.and the stupid stay put advice cost people their lives

[@supermecho3]

What is with the London Accent. What’s Ahks. Ask! Sorry I struggled to understand her. We need subtitles please

[@Neophema]

Nobody else struggled to understand her. Linguistic metathesis is a common occurrence in most languages. Maybe you need some education?

[@Yasin_2312]

Clearly you are the only one struggling to understand. We all understand so please be mindful of what you say

[@maramshiikh8988]

Avondale primary school

[@asa1973100]

She’s lucky that scarf never caught fire I bet that’s 100% polyester

[@pink.palm.puff.number1fan]

That's really horrible to say

[@teainortakoy]

I'm sure their first priority was getting out alive, not putting outdoor clothes on.

[@ParticleJesus]

Have you noticed that the media love covering Grenfell? They can't get enough of it. They can't stop! Whereas the Manchester bombing is now a distant forgotten memory.

[@itzshanna720]

Michael Black its because as heart breaking as the attack was honestly i was in tears the grenfell tower incident was huge, a whole tower block on fire with people burning inside, so yes the news are going to want to hear all about their stories about how they escaped.

[@Bilal-qi1oc]

400+ dead due to corporate manslaughter doesn't compare to manchester bombing with all due respect

[@leeleecee2911]

Michael Black compare a building blaze that could of been prevented killing hundreds compared to a bomb that took many lives don't get me wrong,but thats been solved we know who killed those kids, the Grenfell tower we still don't know what happened

[@ParticleJesus]

Manchester could have been prevented too.

[@surayaNW]

Is it because she’s a Muslim ? This is much worse than what happened in Manchester. It’s the worst thing that happened in London since the world war 2

[@aestheticsxx4083]

Ohmygod this girl goes to my school

[@lilmizzije]

Aesthetics Xx what is she like

[@aestheticsxx4083]

MAMA AFRICA distgusting

[@lilmizzije]

Aesthetics Xx how?

[@aizenosaimafidon1119]

The commenter is lying ofc attention seeking how sick on a video like this

[@samsamshairf8052]

Aesthetics Xx what how ?

[@jaypark9369]

Who put who in coma lol whaa

[@howtobeepic1085]

Jay Park the smoke put naila the girl in my class in a coma

[@Freya262]

How To Be Epic - as a classmate of Naila and others who lost their lives - both physical and materialistic - in the blaze this would make you yourself around, 12/13. In which case I feel for you having to see how idiotic and racist the adults in this world can be via some of the comments on here, and hope you realise that they are a minority in this country who think they have to shout louder than others to seem important.

[@howtobeepic1085]

Freya262 thanks bro

[@christopherpoulton8112]

Allah akba where was he then

[@user-mr4bb8bx3i]

shut up

[@HYUKLDER1]

A better solution would have been to not be in UK.

[@marthahebden9258]

Racist?! In this crisis! I'm ashamed.

[@xxxxel6736]

we will ask for your opinion when we want it in the mean time, sit down and let the grown ups talk 🤫

[@kynismos]

Little girl with a head scarf: What perversion!

[@kynismos]

Her choice? How do you know?

[@abidhussain6757]

Mike Hunt you are a sick person.

[@abidhussain6757]

T Watt do you didnt get my point. Read it again.

[@howtobeepic1085]

kynismos you do know she is in my class

[@anisalatifa5149]

Mike Hunt Your daughters probably a little slag, along with your mum and wife x

[@ToonandBBfan]

Hey little girl Ever heard of a pop group called "The Doors". They have a hit song. "Light my fire"

[@jeaniejbutler4911]

your comment is rude, mean and totally inappropiate

[@darksharkrafa1]

why is a muslim speaking like a Jamaican ??????

[@cazstar1989]

be frank Muslim isn’t a race 😂 you can be Muslim regardless of where you are from ...

[@Freya262]

Do you mean why is a young girl brought up in London speaking like a Londoner?

[@yasmin6x]

be frank it’s called an “accent”

[@yasmin6x]

Daz White well that’s probably because you have partial hearing loss lol thousands of people have her accent

[@yasmin6x]

Mike Hunt huh? People with British accents are banned??

[@francisgoldstien6153]

Liars

[@xxxxel6736]

U can keep your opinion to yourself I don’t think anyone really cares 😂

[@tawakalitdabiri2014]

@@xxxxel6736 I care soo..

[@xxxxel6736]

Tawakalit Dabiri I doubt your anyone 🤷‍♀️ at least not anyone important