A woman tragically fell to her demise from the sixth floor of a residential tower while attempting to remove a blockage from a malfunctioning drainpipe.
Sarah McGreevy, aged 37, fell from her residence in Hackney, east London, after standing on a wooden box on her balcony in an effort to reach the obstructed pipe.
An inquest into her passing revealed that residents of the council-owned property had voiced complaints regarding persistent pipe blockages, particularly after substantial rain, leading them to address the issue personally.
The coroner has since urged the building’s freeholder, Hackney Council, to rectify the guttering problems to avert similar incidents, cautioning that residents would likely continue engaging in this perilous behavior.
Ms. McGreevy, a native of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, sustained critical injuries when she fell from the rented two-bedroom flat shortly before 10am on June 16.
Authorities found a wooden box on the balcony alongside her mobile phone positioned on a window ledge next to it.
Senior Coroner Mary Hassell stated: ‘Authorities were informed of residents living on the fifth and sixth floors climbing onto their balconies to manually address blocked pipes, particularly post-heavy rainfall.
‘The investigation by the police did not uncover any evidence implying the involvement of others in Ms. McGreevy’s death or that she had any intentions of self-harm.
‘Photographs taken of Ms. McGreevy’s hands after her passing displayed dirt under her fingernails, consistent with engaging in a cleaning activity.
‘I determined that it was highly probable Ms. McGreevy climbed onto the wooden box to clear the pipe and accidentally toppled over the balcony.’
In a report aimed at preventing future fatalities, she remarked that evidence suggested that similar tragedies could happen if no corrective measures were enacted.
She stated: ‘Multiple residents reported a tendency to climb onto their balconies to clear obstructed drainpipes. This behavior presents a significant risk of falling.
Latest news from London
- Strikes on the London Underground still proceeding despite RMT cancellation
- Investigation reveals £20,000 reward offered to find the shooter who killed a father
- A London studio flat available for £850, yet the toilet resembles a ‘prison’
For the latest updates from the capital, visit Metro.co.uk’s London news hub.
‘The leaseholder informed me that he was unaware of any repairs initiated for the guttering or drainpipes in the building since Ms. McGreevy’s passing.
‘Without proactive measures, the practice of residents clearing their own pipes is likely to persist.’
The report, directed at the Operations Director for Tenancy and Homeowner Services at Hackney Council, requires a response from the borough within 56 days.
A spokesperson for the council stated: ‘This is a deeply saddening incident, and our sympathies are with the family and friends of Sarah McGreevy.
‘The Coroner has highlighted several matters for our consideration in her Prevention of Future Deaths Report.
‘We do not expect any resident in a Hackney Council property to undertake the cleaning of their own guttering, and, like the Coroner, we aim to ensure that such an incident does not occur again. We will thoroughly review the report and respond promptly.’
Contact our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more articles like this, visit our news page.
