William Eichler 18 August 2026

Mother tells inquest son's fall from tower block was ‘preventable’

Mother tells inquest sons fall from tower block was ‘preventable’ image
Image: Google Maps

The mother of a five-year-old boy who died after falling from a 15th-floor kitchen window in east London has told an inquest his death was ‘preventable.’

Aalim Ahmed fell from Jacobs House in Plaistow on 16 May 2024, landing on a railing below. He died instantly and was found by his father.

Sahra Osman told East London Coroner's Court she had repeatedly raised safety concerns with Newham Council, including about faulty window restrictors and outstanding repairs, before her son's death.

She said she had disclosed Aalim's autism diagnosis to the council and had been advised to move into the flat and raise concerns afterwards, rather than risk homelessness by refusing it.

Newham Council said it was unable to comment until after the inquest had concluded.

Assistant coroner Ian Wade acknowledged the ‘horrendous loss’ suffered by Aalim's family, adding that the circumstances of his death ‘remains to be seen,’ the BBC reported.

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
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