Grenfell Tower resident's desperate search for six family members feared dead

Sawsan Choucair: Mother's desperate plea
Chloe Chaplain16 June 2017

A resident of Grenfell Tower today told of her desperate search for six of her close family members who she fears did not make it out of the building alive.

Sawsan Choucair, 42, said her mother Sirria, sister Nadia, and brother-in-law Bassem, were in their flat on the 22nd floor when fire broke out.

None of them have been seen since.

Ms Choucair's three nieces Mierna, 14, Fatima, 11, and three-year-old Zieanab were also inside when the fire took hold and are feared to be among victims.

Ms Choucair was visiting a friend on the night of the blaze and raced to the scene in a taxi when she realised what was happening.

Fatima, 11, Mierna, 14, and three-year-old Zieanab (L-R)

"A close friend, who was also in the tower, called me and said 'there is a fire in the building please help me'." She told the Standard.

"She said she was with a pregnant friend and she was crying her eyes out. I said I would come straight away and got in a cab.

"On the way I tried to phone my family but couldn't get through - and then I got through to my sister and I could just hear screaming.

"It was so loud it was impossible to hear anything. She was saying something about being with 20 people but I couldn't hear anything else because of all the screaming. It was horrible."

Ms Choucair, a baker, arrived at 3.20am as Grenfell Tower was completely ablaze almost two hours after the fire broke out.

Sawsan Choucair: Tower resident is searching desperately for her loved ones

"I saw police and the fire brigade, and there were people everywhere. But there wasn't anything we could do - it was hopeless really. Really, really horrible.

"I was shouting to people just to get out, to run."

Ms Choucair has not heard from her family since speaking to them on that night but she remains hopeful they will be found in hospital.

She has been staying in a hotel and coming back to the scene to put up missing posters of her loved ones.

Grenfell Tower aftermath - In pictures

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"I have lost everything," she said. "I literally have the clothes I'm standing up in and my handbag.

"But I have my faith and I am hopeful."

She said she was not keen to blame anyone over the fire, but added that the recent revelation that fireproof cladding was rejected for a cheaper alternative posed questions about the priorities of officials.

"It's always about saving money," she said. "How about saving lives? That is the most important thing.

"They need to think about people and not money. That should be a lesson learnt.

"It makes me angry but my main priority is my family and praying for them. And for every single person. I am Not giving up."

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