A baby who miraculously survived after her mother fell 90ft from a tower block has defied all odds, growing into a happy and healthy toddler. The infant's dramatic arrival stunned the nation after her mother, Emma Atkinson, plunged to her death from the ninth floor of Shakespeare Towers in Leeds in October 2024 while heavily pregnant. Despite the devastating fall, medics managed to deliver the baby alive.
The baby was born with serious injuries, including a fractured tibia and a punctured lung, and spent her first weeks fighting for survival in intensive care. But against all expectations, she pulled through. Now, nearly 18 months later, the youngster is thriving in the care of her aunt Lauren Mitchell, who stepped in to raise her when tragedy struck.
Lauren said: “She is the most beautiful little girl. She is a happy, healthy, thriving little girl and everywhere we go we get comments on how pretty she is, which is lovely. Thankfully there have been no effects from the fall, which is pretty amazing. At first people were amazed that she survived, but as it turned out she didn't even need to spend all that long in hospital. She’s a good sleeper, she feeds well and is just a joy to be around.”
The tragedy that brought the tot into the world left her family devastated. Emma died after the fall, with questions still surrounding exactly what happened that day. Lauren said: “When Emma fell from the tower block it was so devastating for the whole family - it was the worst tragedy anyone could imagine, especially as she was close to becoming a mum again. While everyone was coming to terms with her death we were at the same time thinking 'what will happen to her (the baby)?'”
With the infant's father unable to take on full-time care, Lauren stepped forward without hesitation and was determined to keep the baby within the family. She said: “I never had any doubts at all about being the person responsible for raising her, I just wanted to be able to bring love and happiness and a stable future for her.” Today, the baby lives with Lauren and her six-year-old daughter, Lealea. Lauren added: “Lealea is very caring and loving towards her as well, it's clear that they're going to have a close relationship as they grow up.”
Despite her incredible survival, Lauren says she will one day explain the truth about the child’s beginnings, explaining: “Even now I point out pictures of Emma and say to her (the baby) 'That's your mummy' but at the moment she's too young to understand. The day will come though when she has lots of questions and I'm prepared for that, I will tell her all about her mum and that she was a loved little girl.” An inquest into Emma Atkinson’s death is ongoing, with police continuing to investigate the circumstances of her fall.
