A rookie firefighter just five days into the job has described how she helped save residents trying to escape the Grenfell Tower blaze.

April Cachia, who lives in London with her mother and brother, told the Daily Telegraph that just after she completed the 11-week training course, her crew at Shoreditch fire station was called to battle the inferno in west London.

Ms Cachia said: "This was the first proper job really where I have seen actual flames."
Despite her inexperience, the new firefighter managed to help more than 20 people escape.

Conditions in the staircase were so cramped, fire crews were told they could stay outside to help or go into the burning building without their full breathing apparatus and just their eye gear.

Ms Cachia, 26, decided to enter the flats with her partner and ended up helping people up on the 10th floor.

"You are so blinded by how serious it is, that you just get on with it and do the best you can," she said.

"I've never seen so many people work so hard in all my life."

79 people have so far been confirmed dead as a result of the fire. 

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