Pregnant woman died after falling from ninth floor flat

The heartbroken father of a pregnant woman 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 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.

Her unborn baby girl, Posie, remains fighting for her life in hospital after medics were able to save her.

The inquest heard Ms Atkinson died from multiple injuries following a fall from a height. 

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 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 mother-of-five Ms Atkinson's death.

Relatives previously told MailOnline they believe she had leant too far out the window while smoking and plunged to her 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 had an internal bleed which is said to be clearing and a fractured leg which will be put into a splint at some point.

Ms Atkinson was due to become a grandmother at the time of her death and had found happiness with convicted burglar boyfriend Michael Swanson, 33.

She had discovered just two days earlier that her daughter, 17, was due to become a mother. 

Michael, who served a seven-year jail sentence for 18 burglaries in 2015 that raked in £297,015, had vowed to clean up his act and 'step up' for their child, friends previously said.

He was reportedly excited at the prospect of becoming a father. 

Police previously said there were no suspicious circumstances regarding Ms Atkinson's death. 

A fundraising page set up to help support Emma's family has almost reached £7,000.

The organiser of the page wrote: 'Yesterday morning we received the worst news that our beautiful friend Emma had sadly passed away.

'Emma had the biggest heart and would of done anything to help anyone.

'Left behind are her 5 heartbroken children... Reaching out with the heaviest heart to ask for some help in easing the financial burden and stress of this horrific situation so that her children and family can have some time to grieve.'