Naman Shrestha
In the early hours of June 14, 2017, the Grenfell Tower in London, England, caught fire, which only aggravated as the hours passed by. It led to dozens of deaths of the residents of the building. The disaster is explored in a detailed manner in Netflix’s ‘Grenfell: Uncovered,’ a documentary that also features interviews with several survivors and officials, including firefighters and acquaintances of the victims. Zainab and Jeremiah Deen were two of the many victims who lost their lives to the fire.
Zainab Was Excited About Starting a New Job When the Disaster Transpired
Born on May 25, 1985, Zainab Deen was the beloved daughter of Zainu and Maria Deen. She was raised in a household that was always packed with joy and laughter. Right from her childhood, she was instilled with values such as compassion, kindness, and a strong sense of responsibility, which she carried with her as she navigated through adulthood. She was a free-spirited and loving individual who was loved by her family and friends alike. Originally from Sierra Leone in West Africa, Zainab likely moved to England to seek better opportunities. Despite being born in the tropical country, her first language was English, which she was quite fluent in.
Due to her warm-hearted and helpful personality, she effortlessly made friends. Her life changed when she welcomed her first and only child into her life on December 4, 2014. Zainab was a doting mother whose world revolved around her son, whom she named Jeremiah Deen. Upon his arrival, she began to look for better career opportunities to provide him with a better life and ensure that he had everything he would ever need. Sometime in 2015, the pair moved to flat 115 on the 14th floor of the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in North Kensington in West London. She had made a dear friend in Francis Dean, who was helping her with decorating her new space.
Whenever Francis would stop by their flat, he would play football with little Jeremiah. The latter was a sweet and vibrant kid whose infectious smile would light up the darkest of rooms. While the name and whereabouts of his father are not of public knowledge, we know that Zainab and Jeremiah loved each other immensely. On June 13, 2017, Zainab informed Francis about a positive development in her life. The 32-year-old mother of one had finally secured employment as a waitress and was quite excited to start the new chapter of her life. Though she did mention being a bit concerned about who would take care of her 2-year-old son when she would be working, Zainab was confident she would figure something out as she did with everything in life.
Zainab and Jeremiah Deen Stayed With a Few Other Residents During the Fire
As she looked forward to the future and starting her new job, Zainab Deen found herself and her two-year-old son, Jeremiah Deen, trapped in their apartment as the Grenfell Tower was engulfed in violent flames that spread from a fourth-floor apartment to the higher floors of the building. Around 1:38 am on the fateful night of June 14, 2017, panic-stricken Zainab called 999 from her flat and asked for help. The firefighters were trying their best not just to put out the fire but also to rescue as many residents as possible. When a team of firefighters arrived at Zainab’s flat 115, they transferred her and her son to flat 112, where they were accompanied by Denis Murphy, Omar, and Mohammad Alhaj Ali.
A while later, Zainab and the rest of the people with her moved to flat 113 and informed the officers about the same, asking them to send some help. Although several firefighters came to their rescue, only Omar managed to exit the burning tower, while Zainab, Jeremiah, Denis, and Mohammad were left behind on the 14th floor. One of the firefighters, Christopher Batcheldor, talked to Zainab for more than an hour over the call. At the beginning of the call, both Zainab and Jeremiah were hanging on while the firefighter kept telling her not to give up, alongside her friend, Francis. Meanwhile, he was told that the crew could not get past the 12th floor at the moment. However, he lied to her and told her that they were coming to get her and her son.
Zainab and Jeremiah Deen Tragically Passed Away on the 14th Floor of Grenfell Tower
About half an hour into the call, Zainab described watching her 2-year-old son die in front of her. Devastated by the loss, the 32-year-old mother expressed she had no will to live any longer and wanted to be with her son. Consoling her, Christopher stated, “Don’t talk like that. We are coming for you. Don’t give up.” A few minutes later, Zainab succumbed to the smoke, and he heard “ear-splitting screams.” Later, the remains of Zainab and Jeremiah Deen were found on the 14th floor. Following the tragedy, her parents released a statement: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm we have been notified by the police that our daughter Zainab Deen died in the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. Funeral arrangements will now be made and all further updates will come from Zainab’s immediate family only. Thank you.”
They also extended their heartfelt gratitude to their relatives and friends for their constant support during the tough times. Addressing their 2-year-old grandchild, they stated, “You spent a moment in our arms, but you will last a lifetime in our hearts.” During the commemorative hearings, Zainab’s father opened up about his grandson, sharing how he was an adventurous soul and loved to play football. He added, “We cannot dwell on the sadness or keep asking the question why this happened to our family. Neither will we find a reason why such a handsome and cheerful boy was taken from us at the age of two. Instead, we will focus on how happy he made us when he was in our lives. Most of all, we are happy that you are with your mother Zainab, who loved, treasured and adored you. She will keep you safe now, as she protected you in life.” While Zainab and Jeremiah are sadly gone forever, they will always be alive in spirit in the hearts and stories of their loved ones.
Read More: Omar Alhaj Ali: Where is the Grenfell Fire Survivor Now?
