Boy dies falling from building in east London

Police and Ambulance crews were called to Plaistow just before 6am.

New City Road in Plaistow
Author: Aileen O'SullivanPublished 16th May 2024
Last updated 16th May 2024

A five-year-old boy has died after falling from the upper floor of an apartment block in east London.

The child is said to have fallen from a height at New City Road, Plaistow, shortly before 6am on Thursday.

Air ambulance paramedics, police, and the fire brigade attended, but the boy died at the scene.

The death is being treated as unexpected, no arrests have been made and further inquiries are under way to establish the circumstances.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police were called at 05.58hrs on Thursday to reports of a child having fallen from height at New City Road, E13.

"Officers, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance attended. At the scene, a five-year-old boy had fallen from an upper floor of an apartment block.

The boy's understood to have fallen from Jacob's House in Plaistow

"Despite the efforts of emergency services, he sadly died at the scene. His family are aware and are being supported.

"The death is being treated as unexpected and inquiries are under way to establish the full circumstances.

"Our thoughts are with the child's family at this time. There were no arrests. A scene remains in place."

Plaistow flowers

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called at 5.59am today to reports of a person fallen from height on New City Road, Plaistow.

"We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London's Air Ambulance.

"Our first paramedics arrived on scene in approximately four minutes. Very sadly, a child was pronounced dead at the scene."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.)){:target=_blank}