A heavily pregnant mum who fell 90ft to her death from a tower block in Leeds may have been the victim of a tragic accident.
Emma Atkinson, 38, died in the fall from the tenth floor window, but her baby daughter miraculously survived and is fighting for her life after being posthumously delivered in hospital.
Although the exact circumstances behind mum-of-five Emma’s death are unknown, it is thought she may have fallen to her death by accident while visiting her father at his flat after leaning out of the window to have a cigarette.
Police are now investigating the theory that she opened the lounge window fully and leaned too far before toppling out of the window while her father watched on in horror.
There had previously been speculation that Emma may have taken her own life, but friends have rubbished the claim and said she was thrilled at the prospect of becoming a mum again.
Investigators have said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
Two days earlier, Emma also learned she was about to become a grandmother for the first time following 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 burglar who has served a seven year prison sentence – who has vowed to put his past behind him and ‘step up’ to be a father for his little girl.
A family friend said: ‘Emma had a tough life. She had four kids aged between 19 and a toddler and was about to become a mum again at 38. Michael has a past but has stayed out of trouble recently and they were excited about having their daughter together.
‘She wasn’t depressed. She had no reason to take her own life. She was excited about her future.’
A resident of the tower block said rumours of an accidental fall had spread among residents.
She told MailOnline: ‘It’s quite possible that you could fall out by accident, especially if you were sitting on the window sill to have a cigarette.
‘The windows have a safety mechanism but there is a catch you can flick to override that and the window will then open much wider – wide enough for a person to fall through.
‘The largest section of the window comes to about waist height when you’re standing up, so if you were to lean out and lose your balance you could fall out.
‘People in the flats have been talking today about it being an accident. It’s so cruel if it is.
‘It isn’t the first time someone has fallen to their death from Shakespeare Tower, the window latches need to be looked at by the landlord.
‘It’s such a terrible tragedy for a young woman with a baby so close to being born, it’s unbearable and all the residents are thinking about her father and her little girl now.’
Meanwhile, Emma’s partner has vowed to turn over a new leaf and ‘step-up’ for his newborn daughter Posie following her mother’s death.
In 2016 Michael Swanson was jailed for seven years and seven months for a ‘campaign of burglary’ in which he and an accomplice raided 18 homes in Leeds and Pontefract over a six week period in July and August 2015.
Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and were jailed. Swanson was later hunted by police in 2020 when he broke the terms if his release licence and was eventually apprehended by police in the Leeds area.
However his sister, Lauren Mitchell, has said he’s ready to ‘step up.’
In an emotional social media post, Lauren said: ‘Our beautiful baby girl, Posie, we are all praying for you.
‘Your mum would be so proud of you and I know your daddy is and he loves u endlessly.
‘Our little miracle baby, Daddy promises he’s going to step up and protect you all.
‘Emma will live on through you beautiful girl.’
Last month, Emma posted a picture on her Facebook page of her posing in front of a mirror proudly showing off her baby bump.
The expectant mother confirmed she was due in ten weeks, writing: ‘It’s a girl I couldn’t be happier.’
Emma’s eldest daughter Demi, herself expecting a baby with her boyfriend, posted a picture of Posie in hospital.
On the post she wrote: ‘Our perfect beautiful Posie fighting for her mummy, the last bit of our mama to treasure forever, she’s going to do this for you mum.’
The family are now anxiously waiting to see how Emma’s two youngest children, both boys, react to what’s happened.
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