Mystery of tower block mum-of-five who fell to her death

A heavily pregnant mother-to-be who plunged 90ft to her death from a tower block may have been the victim of a tragic freak accident, MailOnline can reveal.

Emma Atkinson, 38, died in the fall from the tenth floor window, but astonishingly her baby daughter was delivered safely in hospital and is winning her fight for life.

Mystery surrounds the circumstances of the mother-of-five's tragic death, but Emma's family say that she was visiting her father at his flat when she leaned out of the window to have a cigarette.

They say investigators are now looking into the theory that she opened the lounge window fully and leaned too far before toppling out of the window with her horrified father powerless to stop the tragedy unfolding.

There had been online speculation that Emma may have been depressed and taken her own life with police saying there were no suspicious circumstances around her death.

But friends say they are baffled as to why she would when she was thrilled at the prospect of becoming a mum again to her little girl, who has been named Posie.

She had also learned two days earlier that she was about to become a grandmother for the first time with the news that her daughter Demi, 17, was pregnant.

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The family also say that Emma had finally found happiness with her boyfriend Michael Swanson, 33, a convicted burglar who has served a seven year prison sentence – who has vowed to put his past behind him and 'step up' to be a father for his little girl.

He is now coming to terms with being a new father while grieving the loss of his long-term partner.

A family friend said: 'Emma had a tough life. She had four kids aged between 19 and a toddler and was about to become a mum again at 38. Michael has a past but has stayed out of trouble recently and they were excited about having their daughter together.

'She wasn't depressed. She had no reason to take her own life. She was excited about her future.'

Emma's aunt and uncle, Ken and Rita Hanlan, spoke exclusively to MailOnline about how her family believe she died.

Mr Hanlan, from Leeds, said: 'The flat she was in when she fell was her father's and we have been told it was an accident.

'Her father said she opened the window to have a smoke and fell out. He insists it was an accident.'

A resident of the tower block said rumours of an accidental fall had spread among residents.

She said: 'It's quite possible that you could fall out by accident, especially if you were sitting on the window sill to have a cigarette.

'The windows have a safety mechanism but there is a catch you can flick to override that and the window will then open much wider – wide enough for a person to fall through.

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'The largest section of the window comes to about waist height when you're standing up, so if you were to lean out and lose your balance you could fall out.

'People in the flats have been talking today about it being an accident. It's so cruel if it is.

'It isn't the first time someone has fallen to their death from Shakespeare Tower, the window latches need to be looked at by the landlord.

'It's such a terrible tragedy for a young woman with a baby so close to being born, it's unbearable and all the residents are thinking about her father and her little girl now.'

Emma's aunt Rita Hanlan, 75, has revealed that baby Posie has amazed doctors with her resilience and is winning her fight for life.

She said: 'Little Posie is feeding now, she is taking milk, which has been a great relief.

'She had an internal bleed but that is clearing now. She has a fracture to her leg and they are going to splint that sometime next week.

'She is the one good thing that has come out of this tragedy. She is such a little fighter, she was only 4lbs when she was delivered but she's doing well, which is amazing.'

Emma's death was the second tragedy to befall the family in the space of a week.

Her mother, June Hirst, 63, who lives in Spain, had flown back to Leeds for the funeral of her elder sister when Emma lost her life.

June's husband Steve Hirst, Emma's stepfather, said: 'She is in bits, she cannot speak to anyone and just breaks down in tears. She lost her sister last week, which is why we returned to the UK and now this has happened.'

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Meanwhile, Posie's father has vowed to turn over a new leaf according to his family.

In 2016 Michael Swanson was jailed for seven years and seven months for a 'campaign of burglary' in which he and an accomplice raided 18 homes in Leeds and Pontefract over a six week period in July and August 2015.

Cars were stolen and were then fitted with false number plates in order to commit further crimes.

The total value of property stolen in the burglaries was £297,015 and at the time Swanson was on police bail for taking cannabis and a class C drug in to an inmate at HMP Wealstun.

Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and were jailed. Swanson was later hunted by police in 2020 when he broke the terms if his release licence and was eventually apprehended by police in the Leeds area.

However his sister, Lauren Mitchell, has said he's ready to 'step up.'

In an emotional social media post, Lauren said: 'Our beautiful baby girl, Posie, we are all praying for you.

'Your mum would be so proud of you and I know your daddy is and he loves u endlessly.

'Our little miracle baby, Daddy promises he's going to step up and protect you all.

'Emma will live on through you beautiful girl.'

Mr Swanson's family declined to comment at their home in Rothley, Leeds, on Friday.

Emma was excitedly looking forward to the birth of her fifth baby. 

Only last month she posted a picture on her Facebook page of her posing in front of a mirror proudly showing off her bump.

The expectant mother confirmed she was due in ten weeks, writing: 'It's a girl I couldn't be happier.'

Emma's eldest daughter Demi herself expecting a baby with her boyfriend, posted a picture of Posie in hospital.

On the post she wrote: 'Our perfect beautiful Posie fighting for her mummy, the last bit of our mama to treasure forever, she's going to do this for you mum.'

The family are now anxiously waiting to see how Emma's two youngest children, both boys, react to what's happened.

Mr Hanlan said: 'They're both so young, we hope they can stay together despite losing their mum.'

There has been an outpouring of grief in the Burmantofts area, where Emma died.

Local resident Mandy Shires, 45, said: 'I saw all the commotion after that poor lady fell. The window she fell from was wide open all day.

'She had no chance falling from that height, but it can only be a miracle that her baby is alive. We are all preying the little girl makes It through.'

Heartfelt tributes from heartbroken friends and family have flooded social media in memory of the 'beautiful' mother.

Close friend Dylan Connolly described her as the 'crazy friend we all needed' and said: 'You was far too good for this life.'