Pregnant woman who died after Leeds high rise fall named as baby fights for life

A pregnant woman who tragically died after falling from a 17-storey tower block in Leeds has been named locally as Emma Acko. The mum has been described by friends and family as a "beautiful soul".

West Yorkshire Police confirmed a woman "fell from a height" on Tuesday morning, with her unborn child being saved and taken to hospital in a critical condition, reports Yorkshire Live.

Tributes have poured in for Emma, including emotional messages from relatives on social media. Her cousin Sarah Whapham shared her grief on Facebook, in a post that read: "A call I was not expecting this morning has left us in complete shock. Emma you had the biggest personality and the biggest heart. My beautiful cousin rest peacefully."

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Megan Moore also paid tribute, calling her a "beautiful lady" and saying: "I cannot believe I'm actually writing this. Always a beautiful soul in and out...Thinking of your children at home and praying for your baby girl in hospital will be okay."

Another person said: "Absolutely devastating news today, I can't believe it, been sat crying all afternoon." They added: "Sending love n hugs to everyone at this sad time RIP Emma Acko."

Another wrote: "Rest in peace Emma Acko my heart is breaking for everyone will always remember your bubbly self."

Another added: "Rest In Peace Emma Acko ... you were and still always will be an amazing woman no matter what we always had a proper good laugh and good times together. I'll cherish the memories sleep tight."

Local councillor Luke Farley described the incident as "deeply distressing" and conveyed his and his Labour colleagues' heartfelt sympathies, stating: "We pass on our sincere condolences to the loved ones of the person who has died."

West Yorkshire Police earlier confirmed that officers were summoned to Burmantofts around 10.30am on Tuesday following a call from the ambulance service, with no "suspicious circumstances" related to the death.

The police statement said: "At 10.24am today, police were contacted by the ambulance service who had been called to an incident where a woman had fallen from height at Shakespeare Towers, in Shakespeare Approach, Burmantofts. The woman died at the scene as result of her injuries. There were no suspicious circumstances and the Coroner's Office has been informed.

"The woman, aged in her thirties, was in the late stage of pregnancy and her baby was delivered at hospital after the incident and is receiving critical care."