A man has died after falling from a 15-storey tower block in Essex, with neighbors reporting they heard a loud scream and the sound of breaking glass. Police were called to Grampian Tower on Salisbury Avenue in Westcliff-on-Sea shortly after 6 a.m. on Friday following reports of a disturbance. A second call to the police expressed significant concern for a man located outside the building.
Emergency services found the man deceased outside the tower block. The specific floor from which he fell has not been confirmed. The incident has left residents shaken.
One resident, Leanne Richardson, who is 28 weeks pregnant, described feeling "shell-shocked" and needing to visit her doctor. "I came out this morning and there was a crime scene while people were dropping their kids off at school," she told the Southend Echo.
Another resident, Jaime Hughes, reported being woken by a "loud bang" and a "thump." She observed that "a window is smashed and it looks like a person went through it." Hughes added, "It was really loud. A sleeping bag was covering the body. It's bad and not nice at all. If that can happen anything can happen. It's awful. I heard a thump and after it was dead quiet."
Police, paramedics, and forensic officers were present at the tower block on Friday, with officers cordoning off the area. Detectives were seen gathering evidence and conducting door-to-door inquiries.
Essex Police have launched an investigation into the man's death, which is being treated as "unexpected." No arrests have been made at this stage.
A police spokesperson stated on Friday, "At this stage, no arrests have been made and our work is progressing, which includes taking statements from witnesses, carrying out door-to-door enquiries and CCTV checks." The spokesperson also noted that a policing presence would remain in the area throughout the day.
Investigators are appealing for information and requesting any relevant CCTV footage from in and around Grampian Tower between 12 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Friday. Incident number 212 of July 3 should be quoted when providing information.
Grampian Tower is one of three tower blocks on the Balmoral estate, collectively housing 231 homes. Each block contains approximately 77 flats.