The family who plunged 400ft from the balcony of their 36th-floor apartment in Elephant and Castle had been struggling to cope with their nine-year-old son’s terminal illness, friends have revealed.
Rakesh Pai, 47, his wife Aditi Paralkar, 46, and their son Sid were pronounced dead at the scene outside the UNCLE tower block on Churchyard Row on the morning of May 27. Emergency services had been called after reports that three people had fallen from height. Despite CPR, all three died.
“Family found dead after 400ft fall from luxury London apartment had been coping with son's terminal illness.”
Sid, who was born in the UK, suffered from kidney disease, was partially disabled and unable to speak, and had learning difficulties. He was homeschooled, predominantly by Paralkar. The couple, who moved from India to London in the early 2000s and worked as high-earning consultants, had returned to India about six years ago hoping to access specialist care and support from family. But doctors could not help, and they came back.
“It was a huge stress for both of them, but Adi in particular struggled to cope,” a friend told the Daily Mail. “She had no family in the UK and also did a very demanding job, so it was very difficult for her to manage everything. It took a huge toll on her mental health, and I think it may have just got too much for her.”
Another friend described them as “a wonderful family”. A neighbour who knew the family said: “I just don’t want people to think they kept themselves to themselves… They were a very friendly family. Sid would come knock on my door from time to time, Aditi and Robin would make pastries. You never know what is going on inside another family, but I just can’t understand it.”
Some reports suggest the incident occurred after Sid was discharged from hospital and refused specialist care. Police believe it was a suicide and are not seeking anyone else, though investigations continue. Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Neil Coyle wrote to residents: “This terrible tragedy saw a child, woman and man discovered with major trauma… The tragic circumstances are not fully known yet, but the police believe it was suicide.”
An inquest will determine the exact circumstances. No date has been set. One neighbour, still in shock, said: “Hopefully the inquest will get to the bottom of what happened because at the moment, none of us have got a clue.”