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‘What we saw that night, we were not meant to see’

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The Grenfell community is tonight remembering family and friends who died in the tragedy, the horrific memories of scenes they were "not meant to see" inescapable in the shadow of the tower block.

A vigil this evening marks one year since the disaster, which saw 72 people killed after fire broke out and rapidly spread out of control, engulfing the 24-storey building in west London.

Some of those affected by the fire spoke to Sky News to mark the first anniversary.

"He liked his flat very much, it was very pretty and newly furnished," said Daniella Burigotto, the mother of architect Marco Gottardi, who died that night with girlfriend Gloria Trevisan, also an architect.

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Video: Grenfell victim's mum: 'I will meet her again'

"You could see all of London and everyone who went to see them said, 'mamma mia, it is lovely here; if by chance you leave this flat Marco, let us know'.

"We were all completely unaware of how it had been renovated. It is really horrible finding these things out afterwards. If Marco had known beforehand he'd never have agreed to an apartment of that type."

Ms Trevisan's mother Emanuela Disaro said her daughter "loved a lot".

Marco Gottardi and Gloria Trevisan were both architects
Image: Marco Gottardi and Gloria Trevisan were both architects

"She loved life, she loved the company of others, she loved her family, she loved everyone. She loved a lot.

"When I have finished my journey on this earth, I will meet her again. I want to believe there is a place where we all will be reunited. The question is when."

The couple's story has been turned into a fairytale book, in which they are saved from a castle under attack from a fire-breathing dragon.

"From the pain, you can glean something good," said Roberta Gattel, a close friend of the couple and the artist behind the project.

A fairytale was made after Marco Gottardi and Gloria Trevisan died in the fire
Image: A fairytale was made after Marco Gottardi and Gloria Trevisan died in the fire

Zoe Levack, who lives in the community, started the Kids on the Green project to provide activities and psychological help for young people affected by trauma.

She says most are not "doing particularly well" and that the anniversary is "a very poignant time".

"We've been trying to get on with our lives but this atrocity has taken over all of our lives," she said. "There's a huge amount of post-traumatic stress in the community and it does take a while for it to really show itself… we're just doing what we can to support them.

"I think a lot of people are going to be falling apart. A lot of children in the community have woken up this morning, thinking about the friends they've lost, knowing that today was the last day they played with their friends."

Michelle Widdrington and Zoe Levack said the community was still coming to terms with the atrocity
Image: Ms Widdrington and Ms Levack said people were still coming to terms with the atrocity

Michelle Widdrington, a mother who also works with the Kids on the Green project, added: "The things we saw that night, we were not meant to see.

"You saw people screaming for help and you know they didn't make it out and that's a really hard thing to deal with for everyone."

Theresa May says she regrets not meeting Grenfell survivors immediately after fire 0:24
Video: May's apology to Grenfell survivors

Ms Levack says there is still anger in the community over the response to the fire.

More from Grenfell Tower

It comes as Theresa May offered a personal apology for not meeting survivors of the tragedy on her first visit to Grenfell Tower.

She said it was something she would "always regret".

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