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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Dan Warburton

Grenfell Tower fire took huge PTSD toll on firefighters who battled to save residents

Fire brigade staff have taken almost 6,000 days off work because of the trauma of the Grenfell Tower blaze.

Nineteen firefighters and three 999 control room operators have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the inferno five years ago.

Seven firefighters and a call handler have been retired due to the horrors of the tragedy.

The figures come amid a High Court battle for compensation by scores of emergency workers.

They are seeking at least £1million in damages over the mental scars and physical injuries they suffered tackling the blaze in June 2019.

David Badillo entering a lift in Grenfell Tower as he attempted to save Jessica Urbano Ramirez who was on the 20th floor (PA)

The fire at the 24-storey block of flats in Kensington, West London, killed 72 people.

Fire Brigades Union national officer Mark Rowe said: “The 72 who died will never be forgotten.

“The human cost also extends to the firefighters and control staff. Their health has suffered in a number of life-changing ways.”

Over 250 firefighters ­tackled the blaze. Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show 5,975 lost days because of London Fire Brigade staff needing sick leave due to the trauma of Grenfell. It was 5,529 days for firefighters with PTSD and 446 for call handlers.

Smoke billowing after a fire engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London, which claimed 72 lives (PA)

The LFB said: “The welfare of our firefighters and control officers involved in the Grenfell Tower fire has been an absolute priority. In the immediate aftermath, all staff were contacted individually by a counsellor. Since then we have continued to monitor and support all staff who need help.

“An on-call counsellor is available to all staff around the clock.”

Hero firefighter David Badillo, 49, had PTSD after the blaze.

He said last month: “I used to wake up and think about Grenfell all the time, and had flashbacks every other minute.”

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