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‘Every time I hear a fire engine I have a panic attack’: Grenfell survivor reveals she still suffers from PTSD
- Emma O’Connor lived on the 20th floor of the tower with her partner Luke
- Five years later, she’s still living with PTSD – brought on by elevators and fire engines
- Emma and Luke escaped by ignoring instructions and taking the elevator
- Visit Metro.nl to read the full version of this article
When Emma O’Connor and her partner Luke saw their building on fire, reflected in the windows of the school opposite, they knew they had to leave.
They lived on the 20th floor of Grenfell Tower, and when the couple opened their apartment door at 1am, they could see smoke rising through the vents.
Describing their escape to Metro.nlsays Emma: ‘I have arthritis and I knew it was impossible to get down 20 flights of stairs, so we ignored safety advice and went straight to the one elevator that was still working.
“I was afraid we would be trapped, but there was no other escape route for me. I didn’t have time to worry, we were just so focused on getting out.”
She credits that working elevator with saving her life.
When Emma O’Connor saw her building, Grenfell Tower, on fire, reflected in the windows of the school across the street, she knew she had to get out.
Only when 33-year-old Emma went outside and saw the extent of the fire did she realize the deadly situation she had found herself in.
“I went into shock and started crying. I have since been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“I still can’t bear the thought of getting into elevators and I get panic attacks when I hear fire engines.”
She has now revealed how she remains traumatized after the fire, saying she gets panic attacks when she hears fire engines
Emma remembers seeing things that night and the days after that she will never forget.
Our neighbors screamed for help and jumped out of the tower just to try and escape.
“I saw corpses being stored in the walkways of the estate and the residents who stayed there had to live with it.”
Emma and Luke lived in the tower for five years before the fire, which killed 72.
Immediately afterwards, however, the couple wanted to leave the neighborhood.
“We just wanted to get out of the community because we found it hard to look at Grenfell Tower, all burnt out.
“But now we want to come back, as local family and friends are a big part of our support network and recovery from the incident.”
Emma and Luke lived in the tower for five years before the fire that killed 72 (pictured)
This is especially important for Emma now that her private therapy – organized by her lawyers – ends this month.
“I don’t know how I’ll manage without them. My therapist says I should be fine by now, but I’m not.’
Emma predicts that, with the final phase of the investigation recently completed, there will be implications for the mental health of the bereaved and survivors of the fire.
“One might assume that enough time has passed, but there is no time limit on the recovery period for people who suffered as a result of the Grenfell fire.”
Visit Metro.co.uk to read the full version of this article