A desperate Grenfell Tower resident reportedly dropped their baby to a member of the public from the "ninth or 10th floor" to ensure it escaped the fire, a witness has said.

The Metropolitan Police has now confirmed 17 people have died following the fire which engulfed Grenfell Tower block in North Kensington on Wednesday (June 14).

London Fire Brigade was called to the blaze at 00.54am, with more than 200 firefighters tackling the fire at its height.

London Ambulance Service has confirmed 68 people were taken to hospitals across the capital.

According to police, 37 people remain in hospital with 17 in critical care.

Samira Lamrani said she saw a woman try to save a baby, which was caught by waiting members of the public below.

Samira said: "People were starting to appear at the windows, frantically banging and screaming.

"The windows were slightly ajar, a woman was gesturing that she was about to throw her baby and if somebody could catch her baby.

"Somebody did, a gentleman ran forward and managed to grab the baby."

She added: "I could see people from all angles, banging and screaming for help.

"Us members of the public were reassuring them, telling them we've done what we can and that we've phoned 999, but obviously the look on their face was death.

"My daughter's friend said she observed an adult who made some sort of homemade parachute and tried to lower himself out of the window.

"The more I looked up, floor upon floor. Endless numbers of people.

"Mainly the kids, because obviously their voices, with their high pitched voices - that will remain with me for a long time.

"I could hear them screaming for their lives."

Another resident, called Zara, said she saw a woman throw her son, who was about five years old, from a fifth or sixth floor window to escape the blaze.

She told LBC: "One woman actually threw her son out of the window. I think he's OK.

"I think he might have just had some broken bones and bruises.

"I left my phone at home so I went back to grab it and, by the time I got back, the road was completely blocked off, the fire had dramatically spread.

"It was like a scene from a Hollywood movie."

Asked about which floor the boy was thrown from, she said she thought it was the fifth or even the sixth.

"There was another woman screaming 'my baby, my baby, I need to get out, I need to save my baby'.

"But we were just looking up.

"We couldn't do anything.

"There was nothing we could do."

You can follow our live blog for all the latest updates on the fire, including efforts to support and rebuild the lives of those affected.

Get West London has also set up a JustGiving page in aid of those affected.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/grenfell-tower-support .

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