Pregnant Emma Atkinson 'had to be IDed by heartbroken father' after fall from 9th floor flat

Pregnant mum Emma Atkinson died after falling 90ft from a window in the tower block where her father David Atkinson lives - and he formally identified her in hospital

The heartbroken father of a pregnant mum had to identify her after she fell to her death from his ninth-floor flat, an inquest opening has heard.

Emma Atkinson, 38, died just a month before her 39th birthday after falling 90ft from a window in the tower block in Leeds, West Yorkshire, on October 22. Her father David Atkinson, whose flat she was in at the time, formally identified her in hospital, Wakefield Coroners Court was told today.

Assistant coroner Oliver Longstaff, opening the inquest, said: "It appears that Emma Atkinson died on October 22 at Leeds General Infirmary, where she had been brought after having fallen from her father's flat on the ninth floor of a tower block to the floor beneath. A provisional cause of death has been recorded as 1a - multiple injuries, due to 1b - a fall from height.

"Clearly, this provisional cause of death gives rise to the suspicion that Miss Atkinson's death will not be found not to be natural." Mr Longstaff adjourned the inquest until a later date, yet to be fixed.

He added: "I would like to take this opportunity to publicly express my sincere condolences to Miss Atkinson's family." A large number of floral tributes were left at the tower block after mum-of-five Emma's death.

Medics managed to save her newborn baby girl, named Posie, who remains in hospital in a critical condition. The miracle tot, who weighed 4lb when she was born, was reported to be feeding and taking milk.

She has an internal bleed which is said to be clearing and a fractured leg which will be put into a splint at some point. Emma was due to become a grandmother at the time of her death and had found happiness with convicted burglar boyfriend Michael Swanson, 33.

Michael, who served a seven-year jail sentence for 18 burglaries in 2015 that raked in £297,015, had vowed to 'step up' for their child, friends previously said. A fundraising page set up to help support Emma's family has so far reached £6,480. You can donate here.