London fire victim Khadija Saye who sent heartbreaking Facebook posts from 20th floor of Grenfell Tower is among five confirmed dead
KHADIJA Saye has been named among those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The local artist was today revealed as one of the 30 people so far confirmed dead following the horrifying blaze.
As the fire raged around her the 24-year-old sent a message saying "please pray for me".
But today friends told Sky News the artist had died.
Four others have also been identified among the dead but dozens still remain unaccounted for.
She and her mum Mary, whose fate is still unknown, were in Khadija's flat on the 20th floor when the blaze hit.
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Khadija's friend David Lammy MP tweeted his sorrow for the loss of the young artist.
He wrote: "May you rest in peace Khadija Saye. God bless your beautiful soul. My heart breaks today. I mourn the tragic loss of a wonderful young woman"
The Labour MP's wife, Nicola Green earlier said Khadija was last heard from at 3am on the morning of the fire when she was sending Facebook messages from her flat as her phone was not working.
She said: "She was on Facebook saying she was unable to get out of the flat, that the smoke was so thick.
"She was saying she just can't get out and 'Please pray for me. There's a fire in my council block. I can't leave the flat. Please pray for me and my mum.'"
Before the the 24-year-old's fate was known Lammy, had Khadija was a "wonderful young artist".
He told Sky on the day of the fire: "We are praying that Khadija is in a hospital or a centre and is unable to contact us."
Khadija's work is currently on display at the Venice Biennale.
Also among the named dead are an Italian couple who had recently moved to the capital to find work.
Architecture graduates Gloria Trevisan and Marco Gottardi, both 27, moved into the tower block after falling in love with the sweeping views of London from their 23rd floor flat.
The Trevisan family lawyer Maria Christina Sandrin said: “I’ve heard the recording of Gloria talking to her mother and there is no hope to find them alive.
Retired lecturer Khadija Khalloufi also perished in the flames after her husband lost grip of her hand as they fled the tower.
Sabah Abdullah, 72, was leading his 52-year-old wife down a smoke-filled stairwell.
The couple were both dressed in pyjamas having been asleep as the blaze began.
He told the : "I thought she was safe behind me. I couldn't keep hold of her hand and keep my balance.
"I had to let go. I can't say exactly what happened next because I couldn't see anything. I never had a head at that time. It was crazy."
Syrian refugee Mohammed Al Haj Ali thought he had found safety living in the West London tower block with his brother Omar, who is understood to be in hospital, but he died after becoming trapped by flames and smoke.
After a failed escape bid the 23-year-old civil engineering student returned to his 14th floor flat, where he was trapped for two hours, calling family and friends in Syria, who he eventually told “the fire is here now, goodbye”.
Mohammed had tried to flee the inferno with his brother but the two became separated on the stairs of the building.
NHS England said 24 people are still being treated in hospital following the Grenfell Tower fire, of whom 12 are in critical care.
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What we know so far:
- A huge fire engulfed 24-storey Grenfell Tower in West London just before 1am on Wednesday night
- Seventeen deaths have been confirmed but the death toll is feared to be more than 100 - with many people still missing
- The first victim has been named as Syrian refugee Mohammed Al Haj Ali, 23
- The Prime Minister has promised a full public inquiry into the disaster and police have launched a criminal investigation
- The blaze is thought to have been sparked by a faulty fridge
- Experts warned the blaze was spread by cladding panels which are fitted to countless buildings across Britain
- Residents were seen jumping from upper floors in scenes reminiscent of September 11
- Horrified witnesses told of babies being thrown from windows by desperate mothers
- It was revealed the block had only recently undergone a £10million refurb but still had no sprinkler system installed
- Designers insisted the refurbishment work complied with building regulations
- Residents raised safety concerns four years ago, but were ignored
- A former housing minister was blasted for postponing a government review into tower block safety
- Celebrities and ordinary Londoners have united to provide food, clothes, money and shelter for survivors
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