Mum who died in tower block tragedy ‘fell from window while smoking’

A heavily pregnant mother who died after falling 90ft from a tower in Leeds may have been the victim of a tragic accident.

Emma Atkinson, 38, died after falling from a tenth-floor window, but her The little daughter miraculously survived. and is fighting for her life after giving birth posthumously in the hospital.

Although the exact circumstances behind the death of mother-of-five Emma are unknown, it is believed she may have died accidentally while visiting her father in his apartment after leaning out of the window to smoke a cigarette.

Police are now investigating the theory that she opened the living room window all the way and leaned too far before falling out of the window as her father watched in horror.

There had previously been speculation that Emma may have taken her own life, but her friends dismissed the claim and said she was overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a mother again.

Investigators have said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Two days earlier, Emma also found out she was about to become a grandmother for the first time following the news that her daughter Demi, 17, was pregnant.

Her family also said Emma had finally found happiness with her boyfriend Michael Swanson, 33, a convicted thief who served a seven-year prison sentence and who vowed to leave his past behind and “step forward” to be father of his little one. girl.

A family friend said: ‘Emma had a difficult life. She had four children ages 19 and a toddler and was about to become a mother again at 38. Michael has a past, but he hasn’t been in trouble lately and they were excited to have their daughter together.

‘She wasn’t depressed. He had no reason to take his life. “She was excited about her future.”

A resident of the tower said rumors of an accidental fall had spread among residents.

she said online mail: ‘It is very possible that you will fall by accident, especially if you are sitting on the windowsill smoking a cigarette.

‘The windows have a safety mechanism, but there is a latch that you can pull to override it and the window will open much wider, enough for a person to fall through.

‘The largest section of the window reaches about waist height when you’re standing, so if you lean out and lose your balance, you could fall.

“Today in the apartments there is talk of an accident. It’s so cruel if it is.

‘This is not the first time someone has died falling from Shakespeare Tower, the owner has to check the window latches.

“It is such a terrible tragedy for a young woman with a baby so close to being born, it is unbearable and all the residents are now thinking of her father and her little girl.”

Meanwhile, Emma’s partner has vowed to turn the page and “step up” for their newborn daughter, Posie, following the death of her mother.

In 2016, Michael Swanson was sentenced to seven years and seven months in prison for a “burglar campaign” in which he and an accomplice raided 18 houses in Leeds and Pontefract over a six-week period in July and August 2015.

Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and were jailed. Swanson was later pursued by police in 2020 when he breached the terms of his release license and was eventually detained by police in the Leeds area.

However, his sister, Lauren Mitchell, has said he is ready to “step up.”

In an emotional social media post, Lauren said: ‘Our beautiful girl Posie, we are all praying for you.

‘Your mom would be very proud of you and I know your dad is and loves you infinitely.

‘Our little miracle baby, daddy promises that he will step up and protect them all.

“Emma will live on through you, beautiful girl.”

Last month, Emma posted a photo on her Facebook page posing in front of a mirror proudly showing off her baby bump.

The mother-to-be confirmed she would be born in ten weeks, writing: “It’s a girl. I couldn’t be happier.”

Emma’s eldest daughter Demi, who is expecting a baby with her boyfriend, posted a photo of Posie in the hospital.

In the post, she wrote: “Our beautiful and perfect Posie fighting for her mom, the last piece of our mom that we will treasure forever, she will do this for you mom.”

The family is now anxiously waiting to see how Emma’s two youngest children, both boys, react to what happened.

Contact our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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