Man plunges to his death from 15-storey tower block as stunned neighbours ‘heard big scream and a crash of glass’

A man has died after falling from a 15-storey tower block in Essex as neighbours recalled hearing a "big scream".

Police were called to Grampian Tower on Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea at 6am on Friday morning after being informed of a “disturbance.”

A follow-up call to the police "reported significant concern for a man outside the block".

The man was found dead outside the housing block by the emergency services.

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Police have not yet confirmed which floor he fell from.

A resident of the tower, Leanne Richardson, said she was “shell-shocked” by the incident, and that she had to visit her doctor to “recuperate.”

Other residents within the block are said to have been “shaken up” by the fall.

Ms Richardson told the Southend Echo: “I came out this morning and there was a crime scene while people were dropping their kids off at school.”

Another resident, Jaime Hughes, said she was woken up by a “loud bang” and a “thump.”

She added: “A window is smashed and it looks like a person went through it.

“It was really loud. A sleeping bag was covering the body. It's bad and not nice at all. It makes me not want to live here anymore.

“If that can happen anything can happen. It's awful. I heard a thump and after it was dead quiet.”

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Emergency services descended on the tower block as police cordoned off the area.

An investigation has been launched into the man’s “unexpected” death.

No arrests have been made at the time of writing.

Grampian Tower is one of three tower blocks within the Balmoral estate, containing 231 homes in total.

Each tower contains around 77 flats.

A spokesman for Essec Police said on Friday: “At this stage, no arrests have been made and our work is progressing, which includes taking statements from witnesses, carrying out door-to-door enquiries and CCTV checks.

“As part of that work there will be a policing presence in the area throughout the day.”

Police have urged anyone with information to get in touch.

The spokesman added: “We're particularly interested in footage from in and around Grampian flats between 12am and 7am this morning.

“Please quote incident 212 of 3 July when getting in touch.”

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