Netflix documentary Grenfell: Uncovered branded 'damning' by heartbroken viewers

As new Netflix documentary Grenfell: Uncovered lays bare the full horror of the tower block fire, viewers took just moments to be left completely overcome with emotion.

The film delves into the lead-up to the notorious west London tower blaze on June 14, 2017, and the harrowing events of that night. Featuring interviews with survivors, experts, and a detailed look at the subsequent investigation, the programme is stirring deep emotions with justice still not served.

Netflix describes Grenfell: Uncovered as: "Survivors, witnesses and experts tell the story of the tragic fire that engulfed a residential tower block in London - and the investigation that ensued." Days after its release, those who have already watched the heartbreaking opening show didn't take long to break down.

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In the documentary, which launched on Friday, new evidence is unearthed which suggests the president of the company that made the cladding knew it was dangerous two years before the fire that claimed 72 lives. Many have taken to X to give their reaction.

One posted: "NetflixUK Grenfell uncovered is truly heartbreaking and had me in tears. The survivors are so brave telling their stories from such a traumatising event." Another took to the platform to tell their followers: "Not a comfortable watch but such an eye opener."

Meanwhile, a third person gave their assessment, writing: "Powerful doco. To say I enjoyed it isn’t really correct, but to dig into why it happened and how damning the evidence makes it essential viewing I hope the victims and their loved ones get the justice they deserve."

Viewers see how arconic executive Diana Perreiah was warned by French colleagues - who sold the product to the UK - that the type of flammable cladding chosen for cost-cutting reasons on Grenfell was not suitable over 12 metres and caused excess smoke and “flaming droplets”.

In 2015, Perreiah had asked for details of cladding types and their burn times during negotiations for the Grenfell contract but failed to stop the deal, despite the clear warning. This new information comes after the public inquiry found that Arconic had "deliberately and dishonestly" concealed 2005 test data that showed its cladding burnt in "an extremely dangerous way" and had issued safety statements which "it knew to be false”.

Arconic’s statement issued to the Netflix film-makers, Rogan Productions, is that the product was “safe to use as a building material and permissible to sell in the UK”. It also insisted that Arconic’s French subsidiary AAP “did not conceal information from or mislead any certification body, customers or the public”.

Grenfell Tower was 67 metres tall. Its 129 homes were covered in PE cladding towards the end of 2015 with the panels later found to be the main cause for the rapid spread of the fire that killed 72 people, including 18 children, on June 14, 2017.

The documentary highlights that using the fire retardant version of the panels would have cost around £2 per square metre more, which works out at around £40 per flat, or £5,000.

Grenfell survivor Eddie Daffarn, told The Sunday Times: "It is bad enough to know that they knew about the danger this product posed to tall buildings, but to learn that they specifically knew it was sold for use on Grenfell Tower and did nothing to stop it just proves what a callous and uncaring company they are, and how they simply put profit above human lives."

Grenfell Uncovered is available for streaming on Netflix now.

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