The inquest into the death of a five-year-old boy who fell from the 15th floor of a tower block in east London has heard that he died instantly upon impact with a railing at the bottom of the building. Aalim Ahmed’s father discovered his body shortly before 06:00 BST on May 16th, 2021 at Jacobs House in Plaistow. His body was identified by his family, and his death has been listed as multiple injuries due to trauma from a “fall from height.”
Residents of the tower block contacted emergency services after hearing the man’s “distressed” cries. Paramedics attended the scene outside Jacobs House on New City Road at 06:04, with the police arriving three minutes later. Assistant Coroner Ian Wade KC stated that he was opening a “coronial investigation” because he was “quite satisfied that Ahmed’s death was not from natural causes.”
Newham Council is investigating the circumstances that led to Ahmed’s tragic death. Abi Gbago, the Chief Executive of the council, has stated that they are “undertaking a full investigation to reach the fullest possible understanding of what happened, and will fully support any other investigations.” Caroline Stone, Head Teacher at New City Primary School in Plaistow, paid tribute to Aalim in the school’s weekly newsletter.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” wrote Stone. “Once all of the relevant facts are established and investigations are concluded, which we will do as quickly as possible, we will provide an update.”
The tragic incident has sparked calls for action to address safety in high-rise buildings in London and other major cities. While building regulations have been strengthened since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, concerns remain about building safety and the risks of falls from windows or balconies
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