Grenfell Tower survivor’s haunting admission in wake of fire

A chilling new documentary delving into the Grenfell Tower fire has debuted on Netflix with audiences declaring it the platform's "most important" offering yet.

Grenfell: Uncovered delves deep into the sequence of events that culminated in the 2017 disaster that claimed the lives of 72 individuals, including 18 children.

The official synopsis states: "By uncovering actions taken by business and government years before the tragedy, the film shines a light on how it could have been prevented, and 72 lives could have been saved. The documentary gives a platform to survivors, bereaved families and firefighters to share their story."

Since its release on Friday (June 20), social media has been awash with reactions from viewers moved to tears by the powerful documentary.

One viewer confessed to having "sobbed the entire time", while another wrote: "This was a brilliantly executed documentary about the Grenfell disaster. Absolutely devastating to watch though."

Years before the documentary's release, the resident of the flat where the blaze originated gave a heatbreaking statement during a 2018 inquiry into the catastrophe, reflecting on the profound impact the event had on his life, reports Surrey Live.

Behailu Kebede, a minicab driver who resided in Grenfell Tower's Flat 16 and first reported the fire, said he had been living with an unbearable burden despite being cleared of any blame.

The fire, which began due to a malfunctioning fridge-freezer in his kitchen, was catastrophically exacerbated by the tower's flammable cladding.

Kebede expressed his torment during the inquiry, saying: "Even though my family and friends keep telling me that I am not responsible for the fire and I know they are right, I cannot help but blame myself. Sometimes I wish I had burned in the Tower with the others. I have been burning inside ever since."

In another sad admission, the Grenfell survivor shared how he had "wanted to meet the families of the bereaved, but I did not have the courage to do so."

He added: "I feel broken inside. I am not the same man I used to be."

Before the tragedy struck, Kebede was on the cusp of purchasing his flat from the council, filled with optimism about his future. He reminisced: "I had been offered a mortgage and was hoping for it all to be finalised by August 2017. However, that dream died with the fire."

In 2024, Kebede's poignant words were shared at Grenfell Testimony Week, a four-day event allowing those affected by the disaster to confront the organisations they hold responsible for the fire.

In Kebede's heartfelt message, which was shared with event attendees, he confessed the tragedy had rendered him "a ghost of a man" and admitted he still bears "deep pain" from the ordeal.

"I know, in my head, that the fire was the fault of RBKC (the council), Celotex, the government....in my heart - which is full of fear and grief, it was in my flat, my kitchen, where it started. It's a deep pain, a shame that I carry," his poignant statement said.

Grenfell: Uncovered is now streaming on Netflix