Natalie Heslop has spoken out about the death of her 18-year-old son, Amir David Almansouri, who took his own life from The Star Casino's Sky Deck in Brisbane on July 4, 2025. His death occurred approximately one year before a 24-year-old chef died by suicide from the same location in June. Heslop expressed bewilderment at how easily both individuals accessed the deck, climbed the railing, and jumped to their deaths, noting that no staff member intervened with her son.
According to the coroner's report and security footage, Almansouri spent over two hours on the casino grounds before reaching the Sky Deck at 4:19 p.m. He appeared unaffected by drugs or alcohol and sat alone by a water feature for an hour while people passed by. He then quickly moved to the railing and jumped. His fall was broken by a bannister, which caused a severe injury, and security guards reported a loud noise upon impact due to live electrical wires within the structure. Witness accounts described the falling body as resembling a mannequin.
Heslop has shared text messages and CCTV footage to piece together her son's final hours, stating she has no clear understanding of why he died. Almansouri had recently moved from Melbourne to Brisbane and was reportedly embarking on a new chapter, obtaining his driver's license. The night before his death, he sent cryptic messages to his sister, including a photo of himself on a bridge and referencing the song "Photographs and Memories." He had spent the night away from his father's home and was later seen at a shopping center, purchasing cables for his phone and a copy of Shakespeare's complete works. His duffle bag contained camping equipment, tea lights, and a waterproof blanket. Heslop noted that while her son enjoyed camping, the specific items were unusual, as was his habit of never leaving his dog behind.
Concerns about the safety of the Sky Deck were reportedly raised by senior Star Casino management prior to Almansouri's death. A manager flagged the handrail balustrade as a safety risk in May 2025, warning that it would be easy to climb through a gap in the glass barrier. Further emails in July 2025, the same month Almansouri died, reiterated concerns about the handrail and the gap between glass panels. Another manager escalated the issue in September 2025, highlighting the "risk of falls (willful acts)" and suggesting modifications to prevent people from scaling the external balustrades. An independent report in October 2025 also warned that façade elements, particularly the Sky Deck balustrade handrail, could be misused as hand and foot holds.
Following the chef's death in June, The Star reportedly hired additional security and installed temporary hoarding around the Sky Deck, though permanent safety modifications have not yet been completed. The Daily Mail's attempts to obtain comment from Star were unsuccessful. Heslop stated that The Star did not acknowledge her son's death to her, and she was advised by a lawyer that no civil action could be taken against the casino. She believes there must be accountability for the casino, given the ease with which the deaths occurred.
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