Renoy Ellis, the 12-year-old boy who tragically fell to his death from a block of flats in south-east London, has been named. Ellis plunged from the upper floor of a flat on Hotspur Street in Kennington on Friday afternoon and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jason Campbell, his half-brother, described Renoy as “an amazing person” with “so much potential.” Campbell told the BBC, “Just a few weeks ago we were playing together, football together, we played a bit of table tennis, and we went for a walk around the park. On his 12th birthday, me and my girlfriend took him out. I was his role model, I was his big bro.”
Renoy Ellis had a love for space and mathematics and aspired to work in the aerospace industry when he grew up. “He was more like a nerdy kind of guy, into computers, reading books, doing his homework, kind of excelling at life,” Campbell added. “He knew what life was about… he was so smart.”
The Metropolitan Police have stated that there is “nothing to indicate that the incident is suspicious” but are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death. A second person, an adult woman, was also taken to the hospital.
A police spokesperson said, “Police were called at 4.23 PM on Friday, May 24, to a child having fallen from the upper floor of a flat on Hotspur Street, SE11. Officers attended along with LAS [London Ambulance Service]. Despite their efforts, the child was pronounced dead. The child’s family have been informed.
Community and Official Reactions
A Lambeth Council spokesperson expressed the community’s shock and sorrow: “This is a truly shocking incident in our borough and our thoughts are with the family at this tragic time. Council staff have been on the ground supporting local residents. We are also liaising with the police as they carry out their inquiries into what has led to this sad death.” The spokesperson urged anyone with information to assist the police with their inquiries.
Flowers have been placed in front of the apartment building where the tragedy occurred. Florence Eshalomi, the Labour MP for Vauxhall, also expressed her condolences on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Very sad to hear about the sad death of a young child who fell from a block of flats earlier this afternoon in Hotspur Street, SE11. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”
A Series of Tragic Incidents
Renoy Ellis’s death comes just days after a similar incident in East London, where five-year-old Aalim Ahmed died after falling from his kitchen window on the 15th floor of a tower block in Plaistow. Ahmed landed on a railing at the bottom of the residential block and died instantly. His father discovered his body shortly before 6 AM on May 16.
Aalim’s death is under investigation by Newham Council, and a coronial investigation has been opened. Caroline Stone, headteacher at New City Primary School in Plaistow, expressed the school’s condolences: “As you will have heard, Aalim had a tragic accident yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”
Call for Information
The Metropolitan Police continue to appeal for any information that could aid their investigation into Renoy Ellis’s death. Anyone with information is urged to contact the authorities.
