A seven-year-old girl was rushed to hospital after the bedroom ceiling in her parents' council flat collapsed on top of her. Juniper Flett had been on FaceTime to her grandmother when the ceiling gave way at the property in Edinburgh's Broomhouse on June 7. She was taken to hospital, where doctors checked for kidney damage. Fortunately, she was given the all-clear.
Parents Reported Leak Six Days Before Collapse
Her parents, Lewis Knox and Robyn Flett, have criticized Edinburgh City Council after reporting the leak in the bedroom to the landlord six days prior. They claim they were assured the ceiling would not collapse and that the issue likely stemmed from the upstairs boiler. Engineers from Scottish Power later confirmed the leak came from a shared water tank in the building.
Family Living in Fear After Traumatic Incident
The family is now seeking to move home, as Juniper lives in fear of a repeat incident. Robyn Flett told Edinburgh Live: "We reported the leak to the council and someone came to look within four hours. We were told it was a possibility it was coming from the upstairs boiler. I shared my concerns about the ceiling falling in and we were reassured that wouldn't happen. The leak continued, so we moved Juniper in with us."
Scottish Power attended on Tuesday, investigated the upstairs neighbor's floor, and found the leak originated from the shared water tank in the attic. "It was soaking up there. It had been overflowing, the leak found the weakest point and caused the ceiling to come down in my daughter's bedroom," Robyn added.
Ceiling Collapse Leaves Girl Injured and Traumatized
The ceiling fell shortly after 8pm. Father Lewis heard screaming and was left "traumatised" by the scene. Juniper sustained a graze on her back, with debris embedded in the cut. Robyn recalled: "She was on FaceTime to her grandma with Lewis and went to get her bracelet-making kit. It fell when she was in her bedroom. My partner heard a scream he'd never heard before. I took her to hospital, and they checked her urine for blood to rule out kidney damage. We're grateful it wasn't the case. They cleaned the debris from her cuts and dressed them."
The family is now considering moving out due to the trauma. "She's never going to sleep in her own room again," Robyn said. The leak stopped after Scottish Power intervened.
Council Apologizes and Promises Repairs
An Edinburgh Council spokesperson stated: "We are very sorry that Miss Flett's daughter was injured and wish her a speedy recovery. We are in regular contact with the family and have been discussing alternative housing options. The leak from the shared water tank has been stopped, and arrangements have been made to replace the defective overflow. We will complete the ceiling repairs once the affected area has dried sufficiently and continue to support the family."
