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PICTURED: Londoner trapped in inferno for 12 hours uses makeshift flag to signal rescuers

A trapped Grenfell Tower resident has been rescued with just moments to spare after he was spotted desperately waving a makeshift flag for help.

There were grave fears held for the man after those already rescued spotted his plea for help from his 11th floor flat.

Surrounded by charred apartments, the man desperaly waved a jumper out of his window, reportedly screaming for help.

After 12 gruelling hours inside the towering inferno, the man was eventually rescued by brave firefighters who were seen carrying him to a nearby ambulance.

Despite severe dehyrdation, the man escaped the the burning apartment complex with no major injuries.

The resident was trapped in the building for more than 12 hours. Source: Supplied

The man used a jumper to draw the attention of those trapped on the ground. Source: Supplied


'This is mass murder'

Meanwhile local residents spoke angrily about longstanding safety concerns , saying they were ignored because the community was not rich.

Damian Collins, former head of the Grenfell Tower Residents' Association, said residents had complained to the local council over the handling of a major refurbishment of the building completed last year.

"We used to say that... it'll take a tragedy before the people wake up and before the people managing the building get held to account," Collins said.

An injured woman watches on as those trapped inside the tower cry for help.


Mr Collins said residents of the tower, built in 1974, were particularly concerned about the lack of fire exits.

He said there were also faults in the heating and lighting systems, and 90 per cent of residents had signed a petition in 2015 that was ignored.

"There were so many concerns," Mr Collins said.

"The telling thing this morning is that when I woke up I wasn't surprised... Shocked, terrified for all the people living here, not surprised," he added.

Bodies are removed from the scene after a fire engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower. Picture: Rick Findler/PA via AP.

Yaz who is awaiting news of her friend who was caught up in a fire that engulfed Grenfell Tower. Source: AP

Its $14.6 million refurbishment was completed last year and included new cladding covering the whole of the exterior, which residents blamed for spreading the fire.

"They decided that £10 million (A$16.8m) would go on this cladding, and we believe that's what went on fire," resident Stewart Wallace added.

"This is mass murder and these people need to be put into court for the way they've treated this community."