London fire: Son's reveal 'missing' dad's final plea amid Grenfell fire
Abdel Salam, understood to be 75-years-old, was trapped in his flat on the 23rd floor when the fire began to engulf the tower. The pensioner was speaking to his two sons on the phone as they made their way home from the Al Manar mosque, the Sun reports.
PA•REUTERS Grenfell Tower in flames hours after the inferno engulfed the building
Grenfell Tower fire latest images Thu, June 15, 2017 The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has declared the fire a major incident as more than 200 firefighters are still tackling the blaze, while at least 30 people are receiving hospital treatment. Play slideshow SWNS.com 1 of 70 Firefighters continue to try and bring the blaze under control at 27-storey Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road, White City, London
It's very sad. His sons were the last to hear from him Idris Wagdi, Mr Salam's friend
But as the siblings noticed the blaze upon their arrival, they heard their father struggle to breath and move. Mohammed Lariche, 44, a friend of Abdel's, said: "His sons had been to the mosque and they had seen the fire at about 1.30am. "They called Abdel and he said to them, 'I can't breathe, I can't move’. He was in the flat on the 23rd floor on his own, he was overcome.
"Abdel was a nice guy, quite a short old man with a long beard. He used to visit the mosque and was well known in the community." Another friend Idris Wagdi, 50, said Abdel was a "leader of the community”, and added: "Abdel had lived in this area for more than 40 years after moving from Morocco.
London fire: Grenfell Tower aftermath Wed, June 14, 2017 The fire has spread from the second floor to the roof of the enormous 120-flat block, with 200 firefighters struggling to bring it under control Play slideshow SWNS.com 1 of 34 Firefighters continue to try and bring the blaze under control at 27-storey Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road, White City, London
"He will be sorely missed, everyone appreciated him and he did so much for the Muslims in this community. "It's very sad. His sons were the last to hear from him." At least 12 people have been killed and 20 more are fighting for their lives - but it is feared scores of residents may have perished.
AFP Distraught: Survivors were forced onto the streets after the fire destroyed their homes
GETTY Debris continues to fall from the Grenfell Tower, hours after the fire erupted