Greater Manchester Police initiated a murder inquiry.
An eyewitness has described his anguish at watching a man fall to his death from a tower block in Salford. The horrible tragedy occurred on Sunday evening at Salford’s Black Friar Court.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports that a 57-year-old man had fallen from a balcony at the block. He was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.
A murder investigation has begun, with a 37-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman in prison after they were arrested on suspicion of murder.
According to GMP, the man fell from the fourth floor, while multiple witnesses and neighbors of the area claim he fell from the third floor of the 15-story St Simon Street building.
One individual, identified as Jay, claims to have observed the tragic incident. He told the Manchester Evening News that he walked through the pedestrian gate on Blackfriars Road yesterday night and saw the man clinging onto the ledge, ‘hanging’ and ‘dangling down’ from the balcony of a flat on the third level of the building.
He estimates he was there for around 30 seconds before he saw the man tragically fall to the ground. “It was hard to say how long it was because when you see something horrific like that it seems to last forever,” he said. “It was sickening.”
Jay said he ‘rushed over’ to the man with a number of other neighbours. He said he left the scene as paramedics arrive. He said he wasn’t informed the man had died until several hours later.
“When I found out I was gutted. I didn’t sleep last night, I haven’t eaten,” he added.
A man, who did not want to be identified but has lived in the block for over two decades, stated: “We were out on the balcony when I noticed someone wearing hi-vis, and we realized it was a copper.
“Then they began to wrap the tape round. We just noticed some garments on the floor inside the cordon.
“Police were present into the early hours. The CSI people were also present. We didn’t find out what had happened until I went to the pharmacist, and one of the neighbours informed me that someone had fallen from the third level. I do not suppose the dude lived there. “We didn’t know him anyway.”
Other locals expressed shock and horror at what had happened. One male resident said: “I was at work so I didn’t see it and I haven’t even seen the police.
“It is extremely awful. You see things like this on the news occasionally, but you never expect it to happen in your neighborhood. It is quite disturbing.”
Another, a woman, stated, “I was out, so I missed it. However, the fact that it is practically on your doorstep is concerning. I’d just like to find out what happened.”
A man who resides in a block facing Blackfriar Court stated, “My wife and I were out until around 7 p.m. yesterday night, if not later. But we saw nothing. I went out to walk the dog around 7:30 a.m., and there was a police car parked outside.
“I wondered, ‘What’s happened here now?'” It’s definitely a surprise. It is always
On Monday evening, plainclothes officers were observed roaming the building, with witnesses reporting that uniformed officers were protecting the flat’s entrance. GMP stated that officers are still there’speaking with people and doing comprehensive CCTV trawls.’
They are appealing anyone ‘who may have been in the vicinity, or at the address, on Sunday 11 August 2024 to come forward.’
Detective Inspector David Ogden of GMP’s Salford division said, “We know the community will be upset about this awful death, and we share that concern.
“We are appealing to anyone who has not yet contacted us. Please don’t presume that what you know is already known by us. The tiniest bit of information could be critical to our inquiry and obtaining answers for this man’s family.”
Anyone with information that could assist the police is requested to call authorities at 101 and reference log 3044 of 11/8/24. You can also submit a report online via the GMP website’s report tool and LiveChat function. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
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