- Toddler named locally as as Rayaheem Banimuslim
- She fell from a communal balcony after a pane of glass appeared to be missing from a glazed barrier
- Residents say the glass had been smashed by stone-throwing vandals and hadn't been replaced
- Police say initial investigations show her death was a tragic accident
By Emily Allen
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Fall death: Rayaheem Banimuslim plunged four floors from a fourth-floor balcony and died of her injuries
A three-year-old girl has died after falling from the fourth-floor balcony of a plush £20m city centre apartment complex.
The girl, named locally as Rayaheem Banimuslim, plunged 60ft from a communal balcony at the development in Sheffield where she lived with her family after a pane of glass appeared to be missing from a glazed barrier.
She was taken by ambulance to the city’s Children's Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Family friend Baseem Alsabbagh, 36, said the girl was playing on the balcony yesterday when she fell. He said her mother was with her, adding: 'She watched her fall down.'
Residents in the complex claimed some of the glass panels along the communal walkway were smashed by stone throwing vandals but had been left and not replaced or boarded up temporarily.
A South Yorkshire police spokesman said initial investigations suggested the death was a tragic accident.
Mr Alsabbagh said the family was from Iraq and the girl's 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,' he said. '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.
Investigation: Crime scene investigators began forensic examinations inside the building and on the balcony of the development which overlooks the car park following yesterday's tragic accident
Too late: The gap in the glass where the girl fell has now been boarded up
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.
Danger: Police investigate the balcony on the fourth floor of the apartment block where a pane of glass was missing. Residents said vandals had thrown stones at the glass and it hadn't been replaced
'She was lovely and beautiful and always playing. We have happy memories of her.'
The tragedy happened at around 4pm yesterday at the Wicker Riverside development on North Bank, Sheffield, close to a Holiday Inn.
Inspection: These men - believed to be health and safety inspectors, were today carrying out an investigation at the scene
Richard Manley, who lives on the fourth floor said: 'I'm shocked but it's tempered more with anger. I'm just so angry about this.
'It's now been boarded up but why wasn't it boarded up before now when it was first broken. Maybe this little girl's death might not have happened and some poor mother would not be living with the terrible tragedy that she is having to deal with today.
'I hope whoever did this or broke this can live with themselves knowing that they have the death of a three year old girl on their conscience.'
A police spokesman said: 'A female child, aged three, fell from the balcony and has died. I am led to believe the balcony was on the fourth floor and was one of the communal balconies at North Bank.
'As far as I am aware this is being treated as a tragic accident at this stage. The child was a resident at the flats where she lived with her family.
'Her relatives were taken to the hospital and were seen by our family liaison officer. An investigation will be carried out but we are treating this as a tragic accident.'
The Wiley Street car park was taped off and crime scene investigators began forensic examinations inside the building and on the balcony of the development which overlooks the car park.
Arfarn Rafique, manager of Imran’s Takeaway which is a few yards from the accident scene said: 'I saw the ambulance arrive with about five or six police cars.
'The balcony must be about 60 feet high.'
Tragedy: Police guard the scene where a girl fell from the fourth floor after a pane of glass appeared to be missing from a glazed barrier on the balcony
Sharon Hastings owner of First Choice Hair and Beauty added: 'I saw the ambulance arrive and I saw them put somebody inside the vehicle it wasn’t here very long at all.'
The ten-storey apartment block is a described as a ‘fantastic city centre location’, and has mixed-use blocks for families and students at the side of the River Don. The whole complex has 132 apartments.
It is part of a master plan for central Sheffield which links the Riverside area with the city centre.
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I bet you that a stone did not break this glass, it may be that the fixing were over tighten and made the glass weak, then over time with the wind it gave way, seen it happen to these panels a few times,
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No consolation to the family but that opening should have been boarded up and sectiond off within hours of being reported ......Rest in Peace little one
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Families should not be housed in high rise flats. The planners who thought they should are a disgrace and should have be made to live in one themselves.
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That should have been replaced IMMEDIATELY even if just temporary as long as safe. I expect due to all the other panels bring see through it wasn't obvious to a child that it was missing, especially a 3 year old. The thought of realising your child has just fallen, knowing the height, is unbearable. Poor family.
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A real tragedy and I feel so sorry for the family. However, you have to ask why properties like this are marketed as suitable for families with young children? Surely children present a safety issue in apartments with glass balconied areas?
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Poor little might, she must have been so scared. God rest little one.
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Surely glass used on high balconies has to be strong enough to survive being broken by a stone being thrown.
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This is so sad. I hope the family find the strength to deal with this terrible ordeal.
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We are all presuming that the damage had been reported, had it?
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"that is why my toddler was always on reigns when we were out and about" I'd have to agree with you Lou. This terrible story took me back to when I had taken my two year old to the doctor's surgery, she had climbed the stairs and then I noticed she was standing on the landing above me, in the gap between where the glass barrier ended and the wall began. I ran up the stairs so fast, while telling her to stand still. Fortunately I rescued her with no harm done. I informed the authorities who had said the architect had assured them the gap would not be large enough for a child to get through. Fortunately he could see that it wasn't the case and extra pillars have been added since. The possibility of children having these types of accidents have to be taken seriously by adults.
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