A WOMAN has told how she watched helplessly as her neighbour fell from the fourth-floor balcony of a block of flats.
She was in bed at her flat in Porter Street, city centre just before 7am yesterday when she was woken up by shouting and screaming.
The woman, who asked not to be named, ran out to her balcony and saw her neighbour clinging on to the railings of her balcony, screaming for help.
She said: "I heard screaming and came out and saw her clinging on and screaming.
"Next minute, she was falling on the ground.
"My neighbour had called the police. I've given a statement to police and told them what I saw.
"It was horrible to see her fall, but there wasn't anything we could have done.
"There is always something going on around here. It is not a very nice place to live. People are always drinking and arguing and fighting."
The woman who fell is in a critical condition in Hull Royal Infirmary. Police are waiting to speak to her when she is well enough.
A 53-year-old man, believed to be the woman's partner, has been arrested.
Another neighbour told the Mail she heard shouting and screaming hours before the woman fell from the balcony.
She said: "I was woken up at 3am with screaming and shouting.
"I could hear banging and thought there was something going on, but there always is.
"It wasn't unusual for there to be lots of noise round here.
"Then this morning we saw the police and realised what had happened.
"It's quite frightening really, we wonder how she is."
A spokesman for Humberside Police told the Mail they are still investigating the accident but won't be able to get a full picture of what happened until they can speak to the woman who fell.
The spokesman said: "Police received a call at 6.57am from a resident in Porter Street expressing concern for the safety of a person in a neighbouring property.
"The caller reported seeing someone on a nearby balcony whose safety appeared to be compromised.
"Officers from police, fire and ambulance services attended the scene where a woman was discovered on the ground apparently having fallen from an overhead balcony.
"The woman was taken by ambulance to Hull Royal Infirmary with what are believed to be serious injuries.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident.
"One arrest has been made, a 53-year-old man who is likely to be released on bail.
"His account of events is being obtained as will the injured woman's be when she is fit to speak.
"No definitive decisions can be made until such time as both accounts are known."
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
