"Tell my sons I love them": Grandfather's final phone call while he was trapped in Grenfell Tower flat
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A suspected victim of the Grenfell Tower inferno spoke to a friend in a last phone call, saying: "Tell my sons that I love them."
Great grandfather Tony Disson, 65, was trapped in the bathroom of his 22nd floor flat as flames engulfed the homes beneath him.
His four sons and other family members spent yesterday searching hospitals and rescue centres, but found no sign of him.
The father-of-four had earlier had desperate phone conversations with friends and relatives, saying he was trapped in his bathroom.
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(Photo: PA)
(Photo: PA)
Tony's oldest son Lee, 47, said he believed that one of his half-brothers had spoken to his father on the phone at around 3am.
Lee said: "People called my Dad and said, 'Put a blanket over your head and get out.' He said he couldn't as he was in the bathroom and the floor was too hot.
"A friend then called him at 4am and one of the last things he said was, 'Tell my sons that I love them'. Nobody was able to contact him after that."
Lee who is disabled heard of the tragedy at 6am when a cousin from Blackburn, Lancashire, called and told him to turn on the TV as his father's tower block was on fire.
After looking at the horrific images, he drove down to London with daughter Sky, 26, from his home in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
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(Photo: PA)
(Photo: AFP)
Father-of-three Lee, who had not seen his father for several years, said: "I have found out that he did not make it, but I have not completely given up hope.
"I have left my details at the rugby club which is being used as an emergency centre and I have been asking around for him.
"My dad was well known down here and I have had loads of calls.
"He had been in the flat for about nine years. He lived alone and was quite happy there."
(Photo: SWNS.com)
(Photo: SWNS.com)
Lee posted a Facebook message saying: "If anyone has seen my Dad, Tony Disson could they let us know. My heart goes out to all the people at grenfell tower."
In another message, he added: "Still praying for him."
Tony who was retired had worked at a variety of jobs including being a scrap metal dealer. He had son Lee from his first marriage and three sons Harry, 23, Alfie, 21, and Charlie, 19, with second wife Cordelia.
He also had five grandchildren and four great grandchildren with another due to be born soon.
Tony's first wife Anita Rawlinson who lives in Peterborough, said: "I think his flat was on the side of the block where the fire was."
Lee's wife Sandra, 47, said: "Tony had been moaning about the damp in his flat. The block was old and did not have balconies.
"I think they should have knocked it down as it was in such a state and re-housed everyone elsewhere.
"But it looks like they did a cosmetic job on it by tarting it up with cladding to make it look nicer."