An Indian family of three, a couple and their nine-year-old son, all jumped to their deaths in a suspected murder suicide from a luxury apartment building in south London on May 27.
Rakesh Pai, 47 Aditi Paralkar 46 and their terminally ill son Sid, who was 9, all fell from the 36th floor of Highpoint tower block in Elephant and Castle, south London, the Telegraph reported.
Sid was born with severe illnesses, including kidney disease, and police believe that his condition was what made the family take the drastic step, according to local MP Neil Coyle.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene after witnesses called emergency services at around 7: 29 am.
The couple was wealthy, with both parents working as consultants.
Rakesh, who was known as Robin, specialised in finance, while Aditi held several senior roles in the construction industry.
Aditi’s friends revealed that she had been suffering from depression and other mental health issues due to Sid’s condition, The Daily Mail reported.
Sid, who was born in the UK, suffered from kidney disease, was unable to speak and was partially handicapped with learning difficulties.
Aditi, according to her friends, took on most of the responsibility for Sid’s education.
Friends also revealed that the couple had left the UK around six years ago to get Sid some specialist medical help. Aditi would also be able to gain more support from friends and family in Mumbai, where she was born and raised.
They reportedly returned to the UK last year after doctors in India failed to make any improvement in Sid’s condition.
'It was a huge stress for both of them, but Adi in particular struggled to cope with what was going on. 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. They were a wonderful family, and we are all very shocked by what's happened,” one friend said.
'None of this makes sense to us because while it was obvious that Adi was struggling, Robin was the composed one of the two. He was actually handling things quite well, given Sid's illness and the pressure they were all under.’ Another friend said that caring for Sid had taken “a huge toll” on Paralkar’s mental health.
Some residents reported hearing 'shouts and screams' from the family's apartment in the weeks before they fell.
One woman who lives in the building said, 'I heard shouting and screaming for the past two weeks. It has stopped since.
'Police knocked on the door and asked if I had heard shouting and screaming. I told them yes, and I assumed it was a domestic.'
According to a police spokesperson who spoke to the Guardian, their deaths are being treated as unexpected. “There were no other reported injuries,” the spokesperson said.
Officials say the causes of the deaths will be formally determined at an inquest after a date is set.
