Woman is held as baby plunges to his death from sixth floor flat
A YOUNG mother has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a toddler fell to his death from a sixth-floor flat.
Horrified onlookers told how they initially mistook the 18-month-old infant for a doll as they rushed outside to try to save him.
The boy, who has not yet been named, was pronounced dead at the scene after plunging up to 60ft. A 23-year-old woman last night remained in police custody on suspicion of his murder.
The tragedy took place at a seven-storey block on the edge of Bradford city centre, at about 5.10pm on Saturday. It is not known whether the child fell from a window or a balcony at the rented flat, which was yesterday still under police guard.
Neighbours named a couple living there as Gemma Procter, 23, and her 21-year-old partner Luke Green, who had a young son and a baby daughter.
Witness Danuta Tomaszewicz, 59, said the little boy was naked when her husband and a friend went to help.
She had been looking out of the window of her first-floor flat when she noticed the child on the ground – and at first thought it was a doll.
Her niece Monika Tomaszewicz said: ‘She realised it was a baby when she saw he was trying to catch his breath and his belly was moving.
‘He was a beautiful baby. She screamed for help and her husband and his friend ran downstairs. The friend took his shirt off and covered the baby with it because the infant was naked.’
Another witness rang 999 and an ambulance arrived after around 20 minutes, the niece said.
As they waited, the men tried to comfort the boy. Mrs Tomaszewicz wept as her niece said: ‘She could not sleep at all last night.
‘They tried their best for the baby.’
Fourth-floor resident Andrew Brook, 51, a part-time cleaner and one of those who dialled 999, said: ‘I looked out of the window and saw the toddler’s body on the ground. It was a shocking sight. When I looked up I could see the sixth-floor window open.
‘By the time I went down to help there was a couple there in some distress with the baby.’
Andrew White, 53, who lives on the sixth floor, said Miss Procter and Mr Green had lived at the flat for around 18 months.
Residents said they saw police escorting individuals from the block of flats on Saturday night.
A man identifying himself as the partner of Miss Procter’s sister
‘Saw he was trying to catch his breath’
Rachel Procter, said the family are ‘devastated’ but would not comment further.
Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen, of West Yorkshire Police, said: ‘This is clearly an extremely traumatic incident and specially trained officers are working to support the child’s family members and those who witnessed what took place.
‘A 23-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the baby’s fall and she is currently receiving medical assessment in custody.’