Woman who died after falling from Hackney building named as Mariana Pinto, 32

A young Brazilian woman who lost her life in a horrific fall from a building in Hackney can today be named as Mariana Pinto.

Ms Pinto, 32, plummeted onto a glass roof and allegedly lay for 45 minutes before falling for a second time to the ground in front of her distraught husband.

Police confirmed she fell from a building in Westgate Street at 4.15pm on Sunday.

Architect John Leetch, whose business has offices next door, said: “We are very disturbed by the events and feel that something urgently needs to be done.”

Witnesses say the woman was hauled onto an un-shattered glass pane after the first fall.

Another resident in the same building risked her own safety to go outside and comfort her – but emergency services were unable to reach her.

Mr Leetch said: “One of the girls was out on the roof with her the whole time. But then she rolled off and fell again.”

The Gazette saw bunk-beds in the building’s windows and found an inactive listing on bookings.com showing pictures of three rooms, two furnished with bunk-beds. It is not currently taking reservations.

The council made it clear no specific licence was required for the building to operate as short-term accommodation and that no investigation would be carried out as Ms Pinto’s death was a police matter.

“The owner does not need a licence from the council to market the property as short-term accommodation,” said a spokesman.

The Gazette was unable to reach the landlord.

Hackney Council added it had received a complaint about the building in August last year but had found nothing wrong when it visited.

The spokesman said: “We inspected the property and found it was being used as a house of multiple occupation, but it did not meet the threshold to require a licence under national guidance. There was no evidence it was being used a hostel.”

Confidential emotional advice is available from Samaritans 24 hours a day on 116 123