A man who died after plunging from the 13th floor of a seaside tower block in Essex had an ‘argument’ moments before falling – as stunned neighbours recall hearing a ‘big scream and a crash of glass’.

Essex Police rushed to the 15-storey Grampian Tower on Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea just after 6am on Friday after receiving reports of a ‘disturbance’.

A second call to police ‘reported significant concern for a man outside the block’. 

Officers from the force and attending emergency services found the man, who has not yet been named, had died following the fall.  

His death is being treated as ‘unexpected’ and is currently under investigation.

One woman, who lives in the block, claimed there had been ‘an argument’ before the incident. 

Other residents of the building are said to be ‘shaken up’ by the death.

Leanne Richardson, who is 28 weeks pregnant and lives in the tower, said she was ‘shell-shocked’ and had to visit her doctor to ‘recuperate’.

A man has died after plunging from a 15-storey tower block in Essex (pictured) as stunned neighbours recall hearing a ‘big scream and a crash of glass’

‘I came out this morning and there was a crime scene while people were dropping their kids off at school,’ she told the Southend Echo. 

Resident Jaime Hughes said she was woken by a ‘loud bang’ and a ‘thump’. 

‘A window is smashed and it looks like a person went through it,’ she said. 

‘It was really loud. A sleeping bag was covering the body. It’s bad and not nice at all. It makes me not want to live here anymore. If that can happen anything can happen. It’s awful. I heard a thump and after it was dead quiet.’

A couple who live nearby said: ‘It was when we came out ready to go to work and we saw the sheet on the floor and police stood around it. We have heard bits and pieces of what had happened. It’s sad, it’s upsetting. No-one should die like that.’

Another person, who lives in the block of flats, said: ‘It’s a shame really. It’s a waste of a life. You live all that time.’

Police, paramedics and forensic officers descended on the tower block on Friday as officers cordoned off the area.

Residents were seen gathering outside the cordon as detectives scoured the scene for clues and made door-to-door enquiries. 

Police have launched an investigation into the man’s ‘unexpected’ death. 

No arrests have been made.  

A spokesman for Essex Police said on Friday: ‘At this stage, no arrests have been made and our work is progressing, which includes taking statements from witnesses, carrying out door-to-door enquiries and CCTV checks.

‘As part of that work there will be a policing presence in the area throughout the day.’

Police asked anyone with information or CCTV relating to the incident to get in touch. 

A spokesperson said: ‘We’re particularly interested in footage from in and around Grampian flats between 12am and 7am this morning.

‘Please quote incident 212 of 3 July when getting in touch.’

Grampian Tower is one of three tower blocks on the Balmoral estate which contain 231 homes in total. Each block contains about 77 flats. 

The Daily Mail has contacted East of England Ambulance Service for comment.