Girl, three, dies in flats fall (From Bicester Advertiser)

Girl, three, dies in flats fall

9:26am Thursday 28th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

A three-year-old girl has died after falling from the fourth floor of a block of flats.

South Yorkshire Police said the youngster fell from North Bank apartments on Willey Street, Sheffield, at 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The girl was taken to Sheffield Children's Hospital where she died from her injuries shortly after 5pm. A spokesman said officers were continuing to investigate the "tragic incident".

The girl was named locally as Rayaheem Banimuslim.

Family friend Baseem Alsabbagh, 36, said the girl was playing on the balcony when she fell. He said her mother was with her, adding: "She watched her fall down."

He said the family was from Iraq and the father, Hikmat, was studying for a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University. He said the family moved to the block of flats last September.

"They are heartbroken. She was a lovely, beautiful baby. I can't describe it. She was playing with other kids nicely. Her mother saw her fall down."

He said a number of glass panels on the balcony had been broken in the past. He said the family lived on the eighth floor, but the little girl was playing in the sunshine on the fourth floor when the tragedy happened.

He said there were "important questions" to answer regarding safety on the balcony and smashed glass panels. "They should have been fixed, there should be extra safety up there."

But he added: "I think the family are only thinking about taking their daughter back to Iraq. She was lovely and beautiful and always playing. We have happy memories of her."