Tragic Balcony Fall Claims Life of Sarah McGreevy While Clearing Drainpipe

On June 16, 2024, Sarah McGreevy, a 37-year-old fashion designer, died after a tragic fall from her sixth-floor balcony in Hackney, east London. The inquest revealed that she climbed onto a wooden box to clear a blocked drainpipe, which had been experiencing issues following heavy rainfall. Witness statements indicated that residents often manually unblock their pipes due to the lack of proper maintenance by the freeholder, Hackney Council. Assistant coroner Sarah Bourke expressed concern that without remedial action, similar accidents could happen again. A prevention of future deaths report was issued, highlighting that the council needed to address the unsafe practice among residents and the risk associated with unblocking pipes themselves. During the investigation, authorities found evidence of Sarah cleaning, including dirt on her hands and a box positioned precariously on the balcony. Following the incident, Hackney Council acknowledged the tragedy and committed to reviewing the coroner's report to ensure such an accident does not occur again. They asserted that no resident should be expected to undertake maintenance tasks such as cleaning their own gutters. The coroner emphasized that the council has the power to implement changes to enhance safety and prevent future tragedies. The council's response to these findings is due by January 1, 2025, as they seek to address the reported safety concerns raised in the coroner's findings.