Emergency crews raced to Great Ancoats Street just after 7am this morning after reports of a body outside a block of flats.
The woman was discovered near the Leonardo Hotel and Victoria House flats, with police immediately sealing off the busy thoroughfare while forensics teams combed the scene.
Yellow tape stretched across the pavement next to the residential complex as detectives worked to piece together what happened in those final moments.
Streets Sealed Off
Commuters faced disruption as officers blocked access to the area, setting up a cordon that remained in place hours after the grim discovery.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson confirmed the force was called to the scene at approximately 7am. We were called to Great Ancoats Street this morning at about 7am to reports the body of a woman had been found,” they said.
It appears she has fallen from a building but officers are currently investigating to determine the circumstances.
Both uniformed officers and plain-clothes detectives were visible at the scene throughout the morning, with multiple ambulances also in attendance despite paramedics being unable to save the woman.
Investigation Launched
Police have launched a full investigation into the death, though they’ve released few details about the woman’s identity or what might have led to the fall.
The footpath adjacent to the flats has been completely blocked off, forcing pedestrians to cross to the opposite side of the street. Officers could be seen speaking to residents and potential witnesses as they tried to establish a timeline of events.
The Leonardo Hotel sits in a bustling part of Manchester’s regenerated Ancoats district, an area that’s seen massive development in recent years with new apartments and hotels springing up along what was once an industrial wasteland.
Victoria House flats tower over the street corner, with dozens of residential units overlooking the spot where the woman’s body was found.
As investigations continue, questions remain about whether this was a tragic accident or something more sinister. Police have asked anyone with information to come forward as they work to understand the woman’s final hours.
The death has shocked locals in an area that’s become increasingly popular with young professionals and students drawn to its proximity to the city centre.
Greater Manchester Police are expected to release more information as their investigation progresses.
Image credit:
Victoria House, Manchester (January 2025). Photo by Gerald England, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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