Grenfell inquiry halted as grieving relative collapses on final day of victims' tributes

Woman affected thought to have lost six family members in inferno

Nadia Choucair with members of her family. They were found on the 22nd floor (Grenfell Tower Inquiry)

The inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has been halted after a woman collapsed on the final day of tributes to the 72 victims of the fire.

The woman was moaning as she was helped by officials in the main conference room at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London, where commemorative hearings are being held.

Paramedics also ran in to help.

All men were then asked to leave the room to give her privacy.

Proceedings were paused for around half an hour, and second counsel to the inquiry Bernard Richmond QC told attendees the woman had been taken into a side room.

The woman, believed to be a relative of the Choucair family, collapsed as Nabil Choucair paid tribute to six members of his family who died in the fire.

Mr Choucair lost his mother, Sirria, 60, his sister Nadia, 33, her husband Bassem, 40, and their children Mierna, 13, Fatima, 11, and Zainab, three, in the fire in west London on the night of 14 June. His sister's flat was on the 22nd floor of the tower block.

Survivors have this week told the inquiry of their anger at the fire brigade’s advice to stay inside, which discouraged many families from fleeing the flames and smoke.

The first two weeks of the inquiry, led by retired judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, were given over to hearing tributes from relatives to those who died.

Next, the hearing will examine the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the fire.