Grenfell inquest: Survivor breaks down in tearful tribute to his stillborn baby who died as family escaped blaze

Marcio Gomes, the father of a baby stillborn after his parents escaped the Grenfell Tower fire has spoken of his loss on the opening day of the public inquiry. Gomes was in tears as he recalled holding his son Logan, hoping it was a bad dream.

Mr Gomes said “everything was ready” for his baby’s arrival, including a message that had been painted on the nursery wall. The inquiry was shown an ultrasound picture of Logan, who was due on 14 August but was born two months earlier. With his wife, Andrea, sat beside him, he said it had “felt like our hearts had broken”. “He was going to be my superstar,” he added.

Calling the last 11 months one of his “hardest battles”, baby Logan’s father, Marcio Gomes, remembered cradling his “beautiful sleeping baby” and hoping he would open his eyes.

The child was stillborn in hospital on 14 June 2017, hours after his parents fled the blaze.

His comments marked the beginning of two weeks of poignant tributes from family and friends of the 72 victims as the first phase of the public inquiry gets under way.

Almost one year on, bereaved family and friends will paint a picture of the loved ones they lost in front of the retired judge chairing the probe, Sir Martin Moore-Bick.

Relatives of all 72 victims will be given the chance to commemorate loved ones during the inquiry.