A Grenfell Tower survivor who carried his mother down from the highest floor last saw his father staying behind to help other residents, an inquiry has heard.

Farhad Neda arrived home on the 23rd floor of the west London block just two minutes before the fire started on June 14 last year.

He lived there with his mother Flora and father Mohamed, known as Saber, who died that night.

Mohamed Neda
Mohamed Neda died while trying to help others escape the flames (handout/PA)

The family first became aware that something was amiss when the smoke extractor in their hallway began whirring loudly, prompting them to ring the Tenant Management Organisation (TMO).

Mr Neda told a call operator the fan had gone off, the lift was not working and he could smell “electrical burning” and was told an engineer was on the way, his statement to the Grenfell Tower inquiry said.

It continued: “She then added at the end of the call, just in passing, ‘Oh and the fire brigade are on the way’. She did not say why they were coming.

“I had assumed that this may have been some standard procedure, but clearly this woman knew of a much greater problem lower down but did not bother informing me even though she knew I was on the highest residential floor.

“She did not say ‘get out of your flat’ or direct me to leave. We could have all got out at that stage.”

An audio recording of the phone call was played to a hearing at Holborn Bars on Thursday, in which the operator said several times that the fire brigade was in attendance, but gave no further information.

Mr Neda said when his family became aware of the fire, they decided to leave – but encountered residents from lower floors who told them to go back.

They were joined in their flat by four others, mother and daughter Mariem and Eslah Elgwahry and sisters Fatemah and Sakina Afrasiabi.

Soon, flames had climbed all the way to the property at the top of the tower – first breaking into a bedroom before spreading.

Farhad Neda and his mother
Farhad Neda helped his mother Flora to safety (Channel 4 News/PA)

“I saw my mum standing on the window sill saying she was ready to jump rather than go through the pain of being burnt alive,” Mr Neda’s statement said.

“She said that she did not want to die.”

They decided to attempt an escape at around 2.30am, despite Mrs Neda’s mobility issues.

Her son’s account continued: “My last sighting of my dad alive was in the hallway of our flat as I was going towards the front door to try and escape on the last occasion.

“I remember seeing him helping the four women to put wet towels around their faces so that they could have a chance to get through the smoke with us.

“He was preparing them to be able to help them breathe in the smoke… he was trying to calm everybody by giving them hope and encouraging them to escape.

“The last vision I have of him was my father getting the ladies and himself ready to face into that thick, black smoke. He was helping them fix the towels around their faces.

“That was the last time I saw my dad alive. It is the last time my eyes set eyes on my best friend in the world.”

Mr Neda described his father as a “hero” for forsaking his own safety to stay behind with the women.

“He died trying to save their lives, he gave them hope and encouragement,” the statement said.

“He knew full well that time was running out and his instinct must have been to go immediately, but being the sort of man he was he delayed for those moments whilst he helped others prepare for the thick and toxic smoke outside our flat.”

Meanwhile, Mr Neda began a long and punishing journey down the dark stairwell, shouldering his mother’s weight as he walked.

They tripped over the bodies of residents who had collapsed as they tried to escape, he said.

Grenfell Tower fire
The flames reached the very top of the tower (PA)

“The sounds from the people who were dying will never leave me. I could not do anything to help them as I had to carry mum and try and stay alive,” his account continued.

He was forced to pause to regain his breath in a pocket of cleaner air halfway down the tower, before the pair encountered two firefighters who helped them reach the lobby.

“We both thought that we were going to die, for sure. It is a miracle that we survived,” he said.

“We are the only people to have survived from those who were trapped on the 23rd floor of Grenfell Tower. We had to pass through every floor to reach safety.”

Their journey downstairs was a “nightmare”, Mr Neda said, but the thought of his fiancee and his mother gave him strength to carry on.

However, on floor 23, his father and the four women did not survive.

Mr Neda did not learn of his father’s death for several days, having been placed in a coma after his rescue.

His account said: “No words can convey the sadness knowing that all five died in the fire. No words can convey the loss of my dear dad.

“However, I am extremely proud of him.

“He gave those ladies comfort and encouragement when all hope looked lost at the top of Grenfell Tower.”