Woman dies in fall from tower block months after family of three plunged to their death from same building

A woman in her 20s has died after falling from a luxury tower block months after a family of three plummeted to their deaths from the same building.

The Metropolitan Police cordoned off an area near the 45-floor UNCLE building in south London’s Elephant and Castle district after being called at about 9.30am.

A woman was found unconscious on the ground and pronounced dead at the scene in Churchyard Row.

The death comes after a couple and their terminally ill nine-year-old son fell 400ft from their luxury London high-rise apartment in the block also known as Highpoint on May 27 this year.

Rakesh Pai, 47, his 46-year-old wife Aditi Paralkar and their son Sid fell from the balcony of their 36th-floor apartment that morning.

The family were pronounced dead within 20 minutes of each other by air ambulance medics, an inquest at London Inner South Coroner’s Court heard on July 8.

In a statement about today’s death of the woman in her 20s who has not yet been named, the Met said officers attended at about 9.35am ‘following reports of a fall from height in Churchyard Row, Southwark’.

Scotland Yard added: ‘Police attended with the London Ambulance Service. A woman, believed to be aged in her 20s, was found unconscious. She was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

The tragedy happened near the 45-floor UNCLE towerblock in Elephant and Castle 

‘Police are working to inform the woman’s next of kin.

‘The incident is not currently being treated as suspicious. A scene remains in place while officers conduct their enquiries.’

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 9.32am today (1 October) to reports of a person falling from height on Churchyard Row, SE11.

‘We sent ambulance crews, paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer. Sadly, a woman died at the scene.’

A forensics tent was erected near the scene and police tape protected a St Mary’s Churchyard area close to the tower block where the woman fell.

The May 27 deaths of Mr Pai, Ms Paralkar and their son Sid are currently subject to ongoing investigations after the opening of an inquest.

The high-earning couple – originally from India and with no family in the UK – both worked as consultants.

Rakesh, who was known as Robin, specialised in finance while Aditi held several senior roles in the construction industry.

Aditi Paralkar, 46, died along with her partner Rakesh Pai, 47, and their son Sid, nine, when they fell from their 36th-floor apartment

The family fell from their flat, circled in red, at the 45-storey Highpoint tower block in Elephant and Castle, south London

Friends revealed that Aditi had been suffering with depression and other mental health issues because of Sid’s condition.

The youngster, who was born in the UK, was unable to speak, partially handicapped and also suffered from learning difficulties and a kidney disease.

He had to be homeschooled with Aditi, who was affectionately known as Adi by her friends, taking on most of the responsibility for his education.

Reports have suggested Sid, the couple’s only child, was denied medical treatment and discharged from hospital, leaving Rakesh and Aditi devastated.

Friends revealed that the couple left the UK to live in India around six years ago to get Sid specialist medical help and to provide Aditi with more support from friends and family in Mumbai, where she was born and raised.

They are said to have returned to Britain last year after doctors in India were unable to improve his condition.

Rakesh worked as a project manager for major banks including Barclays, Santander and Deutsche Bank, while Aditi delivered construction projects, including cladding work at Heathrow.

The couple had previously lived in nearby Clapham, south-west London, and were planning to convert two flats there into a family home.

They were staying temporarily at the block in Elephant and Castle, where two-bedroom apartments can cost up to £3,800 a month. 

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support