THE death of an Aberdeen woman who plunged from her home on the 13th floor of a city high rise remained a mystery last night.
The victim was named locally as Helen Hewitson yesterday, and police said they were treating her death as “unexplained”.
Mrs Hewitson, 55, had stayed in Seamount Court, in the Gallowgate area, where a massive police operation was launched at the weekend.
The alarm was raised at about 7.30am on Saturday, with police, fire and ambulance crews all sent to the scene.
Blue and white police tape cordoned off an area between Seamount Court and Porthill Court to allow them to examine the scene and piece together what happened.
Yesterday Mrs Hewitson’s neighbours, and the wider community, expressed their shock at the tragedy.
Floral tributes were attached to a tree in the square between the two high rises, along with a candle of a swan.
One tribute read: “Hope you rest in peace, with all my love.”
Another read: “May you rest in peace. RIP. So, so sad.”
A 13th floor neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I have no idea what’s happened. She was a fine woman, it’s a shame.”
It is understood Mrs Hewitson had been a private tenant in the Aberdeen City Council-owned building, and had lived in the block for several years.
Last night a spokesman for the council said: “Our thoughts are with this woman’s loved ones following this tragic incident and we will be offering our assistance to Police Scotland as they continue with their inquiries.”
Residents of the high rise, which has 19 floors and about 120 flats, woke up on Saturday to find the investigation already underway, and a forensics tent set up.
The Gallowgate was closed between Berry Street and Mounthooly roundabout while officers worked at the scene, causing queues of traffic to back up around the city centre.
A 15th floor resident described it as a “terrible” tragedy, adding: “I heard the commotion but I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was a car crash to begin with.”
The police presence was scaled down yesterday, although several officers could be seen going in and out of both Seamount Court and the neighbouring Porthill Court.
A spokesman for the force said last night: “Police Scotland are now able to confirm that this inquiry relates to the body of an adult female found outside Seamount Court, Aberdeen having fallen from the window of one of the flats in this block.
“Inquiries continue and no further details will be released until the investigation is complete.”
Local councillor Nathan Morrison extended his sympathies to the family and urged people living in high rise buildings to be careful.
He added: “Obviously it’s a tragedy and we need to wait and find out the results of the investigations before we make any conclusions. It is tragic and my heart goes out to the family.
“What we’ll need to do is find out the full facts before we jump to conclusions. I’d also tell people to be careful on any high rise.”
Councillor Andrew May said: “I’m absolutely appalled to hear it, and my sympathies go out to the family. The shock to the them, it’s a dreadful thing to have to deal with.”