A tragic incident occurred in Hackney where a 37-year-old woman named Sarah McGreevy fell from the balcony of her sixth-floor flat while clearing a blocked drainpipe. The incident took place on June 16 at around 9:40 am, resulting in fatal injuries for Ms. McGreevy. The cause of death was determined to be multiple injuries, trauma, and the fall from a height.
During the inquest into her death, assistant coroner Sarah Bourke expressed concerns about the possibility of a similar incident happening in the future if preventive measures are not taken. The coroner sent a report to Hackney Council, the freeholder of the premises, urging them to take action to prevent such tragedies.
The report mentioned that police officers found a wooden box near the drainpipe on the balcony where Ms. McGreevy fell. It was noted that residents on the fifth and sixth floors of the building had been climbing onto their balconies to manually unblock pipes, especially after heavy rain. Photographs taken at the scene showed dirt around Ms. McGreevy’s fingernails, indicating that she was likely undertaking a cleaning task before the accident occurred.
Assistant coroner Sarah Bourke stated that it was probable that Ms. McGreevy had climbed onto the wooden box to clear the pipe and accidentally fell over the balcony. She emphasized the need for action to prevent future deaths, highlighting the risk involved in residents unblocking pipes themselves.
The coroner also raised concerns about the lack of awareness regarding any repair work done to the guttering or drainpipes following the incident. She stressed the importance of taking action to avoid similar incidents from happening in the future.
Hackney Council has been given until January 1 next year to respond to the report. A council spokesperson expressed condolences to the friends and family of Sarah McGreevy and stated that they do not expect residents in their properties to clean their own guttering. They emphasized their commitment to addressing the issues raised in the coroner’s report to ensure the safety of residents.
In conclusion, this tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining safety measures in residential buildings to prevent accidents like these from happening in the future. It is crucial for property owners and authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure the well-being of residents and avoid similar tragedies.