Mum screamed in horror as ‘happy’ boy, 1, fell to his death from seventh floor ‘bedroom’ window of tower block
A MUM screamed in horror as her one-year-old boy plunged to his death from the window of their seventh floor flat.
Emergency services were scrambled to the tower block in Leeds, West Yorkshire, shortly after 1pm on Saturday.
The youngster was rushed to hospital - but despite the best efforts of medics, he was pronounced dead a short while later.
It is understood the toddler lived in the flat with his mum – believed to be originally from Eritrea – and his older brother and sister.
A neighbour, who lived in the flat next to the family, said: "She’s a good mum, and a very nice person.
"I don’t know exactly what happened, but I heard her screaming and I followed her down the stairs. I saw the body.
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"He was such a happy, fast baby. He was walking everywhere.
"If he saw you, he would run up to you and give you a hug. I’m very sad."
Another tenant, who lives directly below the flat from which the toddler fell, said: "The room the little boy fell from would be a bedroom.
"The windows have a safety lock on them which restricts their opening to just a few inches, but there are also two catches on either side which you can press down to open them fully."
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And a third added: "She is a very good and caring mother, who adores her daughter and two sons.
"She is very religious, a devout Christian. I hope she can find some comfort in God at this time."
The ten-storey tower block is part of a 1959-built estate, and residents said it houses local tenants and asylum seekers.
The mum is believed to have been granted British citizenship and had lived in the flat for around 10 years.
Another neighbour said: "It’s tragic. I’ve got a little brother who is four so it’s very close to home."
A police cordon around the flat has since been lifted, but it is not thought the mum has returned since the incident.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "The one-year-old boy was taken to hospital for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead a short time later.
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"The incident is being treated as a sudden unexpected death in childhood and we ask that people consider the family and respect their privacy at what is clearly a very difficult time for them."
The force said they are investigating the circumstances of the boy's death and enquiries are ongoing.
