Hero dad saved his entire family from their 21st floor home in Grenfell Tower

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by Emma Dodds |
Published on

Hero dad Marcio Gomes led his pregnant wife and their 10-year-old daughter to safety from their 21st floor home in Grenfell Tower before rushing back into the flames to save their 12-year-old.

In times of terrible tragedy like this, we can always be thankful for the stories of real human bravery.

One of those heroes is Marcio Gomes, who lived with his seven-months-pregnant wife Andreia Perestrelo and their two young girls on the 21st floor of the building.

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Marcio and his family on holiday in happier times (Credit: Facebook/ Andreia Perestrelo) ©Facebook/ Andreia Perestrelo

The Gomes family are just one of hundreds whose lives have been completely turned upside down by the inferno that swept through the entire 27-storey building in roughly half an hour.

Marcio and his pregnant wife Andreia lived on the 21st floor with their two children, 12-year-old Luana and 10-year-old Megan.

He told The Sun how they had been woken at 2.30am by other people, and not by fire alarms, which residents said did not go off to alert the residents of the building.

Marcio immediately rang the emergency services and was told that firefighters were on their way up to save them and to stay inside their flat.

But by 4.30am, he realised it was down to him to save his family.

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The fire has so far claimed 17 lives, with that figure expected to rise (Credit: Getty Images) ©Getty Images

Marcio, a teaching inspector for Ofsted, wrapped wet towels around his children and led them and his wife down the flaming stairs, horrifically stepping over bodies as they made their way down.

He said: "We didn't see people, we just felt people. We were just climbing over bodies."

But as they made it through the smoke to the lower levels of the building, Marcio realised that his eldest daughter, Luana, was not with them.

He told The Sun: "We got separated from our daughter because we couldn't see anything. She was halfway down. She had stopped. She couldn't move any more and had fallen unconscious."

Marcio rushed to find firefighters, who he said couldn't work out whereabouts they were in the building. He told them where they were and where his daughter was and they were able to carry her downstairs to safety.

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Marcio and Andreia are expecting a baby (Credit: Facebook/ Andreia Perestrelo) ©Facebook/ Andreia Perestrelo

He said: "Luana survived by a miracle."

The family were treated for smoke inhalation in hospital last night, and Andreia was put into a medically-induced coma to save the life of her unborn child.

A family friend has now set up a Go Fund Me page to help the family put their lives back together.

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The fire spread in around half an hour (Credit: Getty Images) ©Getty Images

Neil Payne set a goal of £10,000 which has already been smashed and currently stands at £21,120.

17 people are reported to have lost their lives in the fire, with that figure expected to rise.

Our thoughts are with those affected by this terrible tragedy.

If you are concerned for a loved one, call the Met Police casualty bureau on 0800 0961 233.

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