Commuters watch as woman, 30, jumps to her death from hotel

AN AMERICAN woman has died after jumping from a fourth-floor window of one of Edinburgh's best-known hotels during morning rush hour.

• Police examine the scene outside the Caledonian Hilton Hotel in Edinburgh yesterday

Workers and commuters waiting at bus stops on Lothian Road saw the 30-year-old peering over the ledge of the Caledonian Hilton Hotel at 8:45am yesterday.

There was smashed glass on the ground beneath where she seemingly broke a window to climb out on to the highest ledge of the building.

A crowd gathered beneath as she looked over, paused and then leaned back. Then, as an ambulance pulled up, she leapt. Police cordoned off the pavement. The road remained open.

Helen Fraser, branch co-ordinator at Amplifon hearing aid specialists, who works opposite the Caledonian, said: "I was aware there was a problem. I was on my way to work and I could see the pavement was taped off and there was glass everywhere.

"I became aware everyone was looking up, so I did and I could see this woman on the roof. I could not believe my eyes.

"I could see her head looking over as if she was thinking 'Will I or won't I?' But that was just two minutes before she jumped.

"I turned to see an ambulance pulling up and then I heard a gasp. I looked up again and the woman was halfway down. She was wearing black or very dark clothing. I didn't want to wait for the thud, so I started walking and crossed the road. All I heard was the gasps from everyone around."

She added: "It's so sad, absolutely awful. Everyone was in a state of shock. They could not believe it."

One man, who saw the woman jump, went into Caffe Nero in Lothian Road crying.

Austen McCowan, who works at Nero's, said: "Some people were very upset when they came in."

Sayeed Irshad, shopworker at Latest News on Lothian Road, also opposite the Caledonian, said: "Customers were coming and saying there is someone on the ledge. I didn't go outside as the shop was very busy.

"The next minute someone came out and said she had jumped. The man who came in and told me was very shocked."

Andy Dobson, manager of William Hill bookmakers, also across the road, saw the woman's covered body as he walked into work.

He said: "I walked past about 10am. There was a body covered up and lying on the pavement. There were police about and the coroner's vehicle was already there. She was covered in white sheets."

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "Police responded to an incident that happened around 8:45am, where a 30-year-old American national fell from a fourth-floor window at a city centre hotel."Her death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."

A Hilton Worldwide spokeswoman said: "It is with deep regret that we can confirm a female guest has died outside the Caledonian Hilton Edinburgh on Princes Street. We offer our sincere condolences to her family at this difficult time.

"The safety and security of our guests and staff is our primary concern, and our team members undergo regular training in preparation for such an eventuality.

"We can confirm that Lothian and Borders Police is investigating the matter and we are fully co-operating with them."