Sheffield tower block deaths: Safety concerns after woman tragically plummeted to death in Upperthorpe

Sheffield Council has been urged to act after two people tragically plummeted to their deaths from tower blocks in the city.

Saffra Winn was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after being found on the pavement between the Martin and Burlington high-rise blocks in Upperthorpe, Sheffield, on the morning of July 24, 2022.

Now a coroner has called for the council to take action to prevent future deaths, in the wake of another fatal fall from a council flat in nearby Netherthorpe in December last year.

An inquest into Saffra’s death heard how police concluded following an investigation that she had probably jumped or fallen from the window of her flat, off Martin Street, beside The Ponderosa park.

‘No safety inspection following tragic death’

CCTV from the flats, which showed Saffra falling from the building, also showed that nobody had entered or exited her flat around that time.

Sheffield Coroner’s Court heard how the flat door was locked from the inside and there were foot/scuff marks on the internal and external window sills, but there was no evidence of an intention by Saffra to take her own life.

The inquest, which concluded on March 19 this year, also heard how Sheffield City Council did not conduct a safety inspection of the windows in the flat following the tragedy, beyond the ‘usual post-tenancy inspection’.

Alexandra Pountney, assistant coroner for South Yorkshire (West District), stated that police found the safety restrictor on the window had been manually disengaged to allow it to open fully.

Second death not treated as suspicious

The inquest gave the cause of death as multiple injuries following a fall from height.

On December 7 last year, another woman, aged 37, was tragically found dead at the foot of a tower block on Brightmore Drive, in the Netherthorpe area of Sheffield. South Yorkshire Police said at the time that her death was not being treated as suspicious.

Ms Pountney has now written a ‘prevention of future deaths’ report, published online on Wednesday, April 3, following the conclusion of the inquest into Saffra’s death and in light of the more recent fatality.

In her report, which has been sent to Sheffield City Council, she states: “The inquest heard that there have been two fatalities by tenants falling from this type of window in high-rise buildings in a short period of time between July 2022 and December 2023.

‘Risk of future death’

“Notwithstanding these fatal events, Sheffield City Council has not yet completed any risk assessment of the windows or the safety latches on the windows.

“A Building Safety Regulator was put in post at the council in January 2023, some 11 months before the second fatality and 6 months after the first, and this person has not been consulted in relation to the safety or risk posed by the windows. I am concerned that this poses a risk of future death.   “More generally, I am concerned by Sheffield City Council’s inaction in relation to the investigation and assessment of risk following cases of catastrophic injury and death within their social housing stock.

“I am concerned that a failure to properly investigate and risk assess any incident of this nature, together with the absence of any formal procedure or policy for this process, poses a risk of future death.

“There is no evidence before the inquest which alleviates my concern in this respect. In fact, the inquest was told that the Head of Housing Investment and Maintenance for the council was not aware of the fatal incidents above until his attendance was required at this inquest.

“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation have the power to take such action.”

The council has been given until May 22 to respond to the report, setting out details of any action already taken or planned, or explaining why no action is proposed.

Sheffield City Council said in a statement: “The council has been in discussions with the independent and external Building Safety Regulator, part of the Health and Safety Executive, to discuss correct window safety devices to be used in all our high rise properties moving forward. The Building Safety Regulator is not a position within Sheffield City Council.

“We will respond to the coroner’s report with any appropriate findings.

“Prior to a property being relet to a new tenant all of the windows – which are compliant with building regulations - are checked by our maintenance teams to ensure any window restrictors are working as required.

“Starting in January this year (2024), the council has written to all residents in 11m-plus-high buildings to advise on the safe use of their windows, including the use, functionality and safety of the existing window restrictors. This guidance will be issued annually for as long as they are in use.

“The guidance above will be included in the sign-up process for new tenants moving into such properties.

“Sheffield City Council has this year established a High Rise Forum (HRF) made up of representatives of our 24 high rise tower blocks to deal with all aspects of building safety and resident concern.

“Should anyone require support on how to use their windows effectively, residents can call 0114 273 4567 and an appointment will be made with a trained member of staff to provide the right guidance and training.”