When the nation woke to the horror of the Grenfell Tower fire almost four months ago now, a report quickly emerged of a baby apparently thrown out of a window by a desperate mother. Miraculously, the child was caught by a man on the ground below and saved. It was a moving tale and it had currency because it encapsulated the tragic choices that those trapped by fire might have to confront. Above all, it was a glimmer ofjoy on a terrible night, with a hero in the man who caught the baby. Stories like this are a big part of news reporting. They help us to form judgements on larger events. And the specific stories that catch on, often Say Something about us. But given that this account of the baby was so seized upon, in a night of total confusion, its worth asking if it was all as it seemed. David grossman was moved by it as soon as he heard it, and he has been trying to find out more. Listen to him. We need to leave now. Straight to that breaking story in west london. London fire brigade
Those trapped on the lower floors could see fire crews trying to get to them, but higher up the building the inferno was too intense to let rescuers get close. People living nearby alerted by the smell of smoke, came to the site and filmed what they saw. Many had come to see if they could help, but with flaming debris falling from the tower block their lives were at risk too. They need to ring 999 and there is a dedicated line for this incident. 0k . On the ground, police cleared a wide cordon and closed the nearby aao in and out of london. Some 200 fire engines were brought in to tackle the blaze. As the hours passed, the concern was whether the building might collapse and who might still be trapped inside. Many people were led to safety, but some 30 were taken to hospital. Others were counting their blessings. David benjamin was in the block when the fire began. There was smoke everywhere. Literally everywhere. There was people downstairs. There was bits of cladding falling off the b