British girl dies in fall from 16th floor balcony

A British girl has fallen to her death from a high-rise apartment block in Singapore.

The three-year-old, who has not been named, is reported to have climbed over a 16th-floor balcony.

Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Wanbao reported that both parents were at work at the time of Monday's accident and the girl was being looked after by a maid. At the apartment block today a woman resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It was horrific. The baby girl fell into the swimming pool area in front of residents of the apartment.

"It quite shocking. People were around the pool when the girl's body landed."

She added that she didn't know the parents. "Nothing like this has happened here before. It has come as a great shock to everyone and we feel terribly sorry for the parents. The balconies don't have railings but they have a wall so none of us have any idea how this happened."

The apartments are in one of the most expensive areas of Singapore where flats sell for up to £300,00O each and are predominantly occupied by wealthy expats.

A spokesman for Fraser Apartments in the Mount Elizabeth area, said: "Police have not completed their investigation." Officers are said to have ruled out foul play.

The parents, who are both reported to be professionals, have moved out of the block, and were said to be receiving British Consular advice.