'Gloria and Marco perished in London fire'

Grenfell Tower ablaze

ROME - Maria Cristina Sandrin, Gloria Trevisan's family lawyer, on Saturday confirmed that the young Italian woman and her boyfriend Marco Gottardi had died in the Grenfell Tower in London. "I heard the recording of Gloria's phone call to her mum, thanking her for what she did for her." It was a farewell. "There is no reason to hope that Gloria and Marco are still alive. 

 Gloria, 27, from San Giorgio delle Pertiche, near Padova, and Marco Gottardi, 28, from San Stino di Livenza (Venice) are among those missing in Wednesday's tragic fire in London; but their names have not come up in the lists of wounded in hospitals.

 The couple, both architects, were residents of the 23rd, penultimate floor of the skyscraper. After having graduated from the University of Venice, where they met, they had moved to London in March to improve their English, and had both managed to find work after just two months in design studios. 

 Their families, back home in Veneto, are naturally tormented with worry. Giannino Gottardi, Marco’s father, explained to Italian national press agency ANSA: “Gloria’s mum woke us up at 3:45 in the night, because her daughter had alerted her. We got in contact with Marco straight away, and he played down the situation; I think to calm down Gloria and my wife. 

 “A series of frantic phone calls followed,” continued his grief-stricken father, through tears, “where he carried on reassuring us saying that the fire brigade were coming and that it was going to be all right. At 04:07 he told us that the flat was full of smoke and it had become an emergency. We haven’t had any contact since then; the signal cut out. […] We are just praying for a miracle.”

 Gloria’s parents were only able to get the news that the building was on fire before her phone became unresponsive. One of her brother’s has gone to London in the hope of getting more news regarding the couple. 

 Marco’s parent’s had visited their son and his girlfriend in May, staying in the same flat, which boasted a large panorama of the city. According to Giannino Gottardi, the building seemed in good condition, “and we could never have imagined a hell like this”. The young couple were due to return next week, for a short holiday for Marco’s birthday. A celebration which no one can even think about now.

 The death toll is currently at 17, and police say it is expected to rise. Grenfell Tower residents have criticised the building’s lack of health and safety measures. Akala, an award-winning musician who lives in the area, told Channel 4 News: “Everyone I spoke to out there; there were no alarms, no sprinkler systems…” 

 The recent 8 million pound refurbishment was reportedly spent on panels put on the outside of the building. Met police commander Stuart Cundy said it was too early to say whether the project on the tower had anything to do with the fire. On Thursday, British PM Theresa May ordered a public inquiry into the incident.

  Joe Delaney, a resident, told his version of the tragic event: “Some people jumped, I know a lady threw her kid out […] I knocked on all of my neighbours doors, I made as much noise as I could in there, I grabbed my neighbour and her three-and-a-half year-old kid from upstairs, I came downstairs, I grabbed my dog and I got the hell out.”