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8:43am Monday 18th August 2008
INVESTIGATIONS were continuing today after a mum died having fallen 100ft from a Hampshire tower block, three years after her teenage daughter was found hanged.
Tracey Pancaldi died after plunging from the tenth floor of flats overlooking Southampton Water.
Witnesses reported seeing three people struggling to haul her back to safety as she was shouting Let me go' seconds before they lost their grip.
Others told how she had lost her footing on the balcony of the property and had slipped.
Friends said the mum, who had two sons called Daniel and Macaulay and three daughters called Shanice, Sherelle and Millie, who is aged just one, had never got over the trauma of her eldest daughter's death.
It was in 2005 when 18-year-old Jade, an aspiring model and FHM High Street Honey, was found hanging from a tree in a copse near her home in Bitterne following a minor argument with her mum.
Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman recorded an open verdict, saying it was impossible to know what was going through her mind in the moments leading up to her death.
Mrs Pancaldi, who was in her 40s and lived in Bitterne, was adamant her daughter had no intention of committing suicide. She said: "I am positive Jade would not have intended to do this. I know she wouldn't have left her family devastated like this."
Afterwards Mrs Pancaldi spoke to the Daily Echo telling how she was trying to come to terms with the death of the teenager who she described as her best friend. She said: "We were like sisters, we were together all the time. She was permanently at my side, always where I was. I don't know how I'm going to live day by day without her being by my side."
Police were called to Havre Towers in International Way, Weston, at about 6am on Saturday following reports a woman had fallen.
One distraught pensioner choked back tears as she recalled Mrs Pancaldi's last moments.
Wiping away tears, the woman described how she had stepped on to her balcony at Havre Towers for an early morning cigarette when she suddenly saw something flying past her.
"I heard a crash, I looked down and realised it was a woman. I saw her lying on the concrete. It was absolutely shocking."
She told how a man living in the adjacent Hampton Towers block had also seen the tragedy. He shouted She's gone' and called the emergency services.
A couple said they were in bed in Havre Towers when they heard what sounded like a heated argument coming from the flat below.
"It then went quiet but later a neighbour came round to say a woman had gone over a balcony,"
said the man. "We went out and saw a body on the ground."
Detectives in Bitterne are leading the investigation into Mrs Pancaldi's death. They confirmed she had been pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem is likely to take place before an inquest is opened.
Anyone with information is being urged to contact Det Sgt Chris Yates at Bitterne police station on 0845 045 4545.
Anon, says...
9:12am Mon 18 Aug 08
K wrote:It's easy to say that when you're not in the same situation.
as sad as it is that she couldn't get over losing her eldest daughter, it's very selfish that she has now left all her other children without a mother.
Natasha, southampton says...
9:27am Mon 18 Aug 08
Factoid, says...
9:34am Mon 18 Aug 08
Anon wrote:Everything is "Easy to say" what is expressed is however, fact.
K wrote: as sad as it is that she couldn't get over losing her eldest daughter, it's very selfish that she has now left all her other children without a mother.It's easy to say that when you're not in the same situation.
Anon, says...
9:34am Mon 18 Aug 08
Katie, southampton says...
10:13am Mon 18 Aug 08
Natasha, southampton says...
10:17am Mon 18 Aug 08
Anon, Southampton says...
10:18am Mon 18 Aug 08
Resident, Weston says...
10:24am Mon 18 Aug 08
Christoff, says...
10:51am Mon 18 Aug 08
Anon, says...
11:02am Mon 18 Aug 08
Claire & Lee, Southampton says...
11:22am Mon 18 Aug 08
Amy, bitterne says...
11:26am Mon 18 Aug 08
Simon, Soton says...
11:31am Mon 18 Aug 08
shaz, weston says...
11:33am Mon 18 Aug 08
michelle biterne, southampton says...
11:44am Mon 18 Aug 08
Don't rely on forums, says...
11:53am Mon 18 Aug 08
Claire & Lee wrote:I am afraid that this is a public forum, this is not the best place to come looking for messages of support. You may well get messages of sympathy from the majority, but these will be amongst other comments from people who will be basing their individual comments on the news story without thought for the feelings of those affected. My advice to the true friends of this lady and her family is to not rely on an internet site to show your support, rather make a true effort and go and see the family or telephone and express your condolences in person.
I ask all to please remember Tracey's children are reading all these comments. Tracey is gone and her children need support not slander. My heartfelt sympathy to Keith, Daniel, Shanice, Sherelle, MacCauley & Millie - if you guys need anything you know where to find us XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bailey, SOTON says...
12:36pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Donna, says...
12:40pm Mon 18 Aug 08
victoria elgram, fair oak says...
1:35pm Mon 18 Aug 08
HOLLY, BASHLEY says...
1:53pm Mon 18 Aug 08
quote
georgina, bitterne says...
2:14pm Mon 18 Aug 08
kylie 'k', southampton says...
2:25pm Mon 18 Aug 08
W, T says...
2:38pm Mon 18 Aug 08
HOLLY wrote:Does not make sense.
I MEMEBER MANY HAPPY YRS WITH JADE AND HER MUM WHEN THEY COME ON HOLIDAY. AND ALL THE NAUGHTY THINGS THEY WOULD GET UP TO. I ONLY SAW TRACEY 2 WEEKS AGO. SHE TOOK MY NUMBER SO I COULD GO AND HAVE A CUPPA WITH HER NEXT TIME I POPED UP TO SEE JADE. I REALLY CANT GET MY HEAD ROUND WHAT HAS HAPPENED. BUT ALL THINGS IN LIFE HAPPEN FOR A REASON THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND HAVE ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD FROM ALL OF US AT BASHELY! KEEP SAFEquote
Tasha from Thornhill, Southampton says...
2:40pm Mon 18 Aug 08
JULIEHOPER, southampton says...
2:59pm Mon 18 Aug 08
kris, southampton says...
3:10pm Mon 18 Aug 08
sue redmond, southampton says...
3:14pm Mon 18 Aug 08
kris, southampton says...
3:18pm Mon 18 Aug 08
concerned human wrote:ok greenie but who r u to judge how many children ppl should have. i`ve got 5 children, i recycle, don`t drive,Buy organic. so i think i`m doin my bit for the planet!!!!! how many cars and kids do u have!!!!
A tragedy for all involved. But on the same topic, why does anyone in this day and age need to have so many children? Most of the problems facing the world are being caused by over population. Think about it!
mandie, sarah and josh, southampton says...
3:31pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Marie B, Southampton says...
3:34pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Claire, southampton says...
3:49pm Mon 18 Aug 08
LAURA, SOUTHAMPTON says...
3:52pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Fenella, Thornhill says...
4:09pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Anon, says...
4:11pm Mon 18 Aug 08
sam, southampton says...
4:14pm Mon 18 Aug 08
sam, southampton says...
4:19pm Mon 18 Aug 08
SALKLY, southampton says...
4:40pm Mon 18 Aug 08
salky, southampton says...
4:44pm Mon 18 Aug 08
talons, itchen says...
4:56pm Mon 18 Aug 08
louise, weston says...
5:00pm Mon 18 Aug 08
K wrote:its not her falt that she fall she didint wont to kill her self and leave her kids be hind thats not her falt at all she loved her kids this womon was up set course she losted her girl its not gher falt that she left her kids be hind
as sad as it is that she couldn\'t get over losing her eldest daughter, it\'s very selfish that she has now left all her other children without a mother.
De Freitas Family, southampton says...
5:36pm Mon 18 Aug 08
holly, bashley says...
6:04pm Mon 18 Aug 08
W wrote:WHEN I GO TO SEE JADE AT HER GRAVE WHERE HER BODY LAYS TO REST. TRACEY KNEW WHAT I MEANT WHEN I POP UP TO SEE JADE!
HOLLY wrote: I MEMEBER MANY HAPPY YRS WITH JADE AND HER MUM WHEN THEY COME ON HOLIDAY. AND ALL THE NAUGHTY THINGS THEY WOULD GET UP TO. I ONLY SAW TRACEY 2 WEEKS AGO. SHE TOOK MY NUMBER SO I COULD GO AND HAVE A CUPPA WITH HER NEXT TIME I POPED UP TO SEE JADE. I REALLY CANT GET MY HEAD ROUND WHAT HAS HAPPENED. BUT ALL THINGS IN LIFE HAPPEN FOR A REASON THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND HAVE ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD FROM ALL OF US AT BASHELY! KEEP SAFEDoes not make sense. You mentioned you only saw Tracey 2 weeks ago,and she took your phone number for you to have a cuppa next time you saw Jade. But Jade died, according to the Echo, in 2005.quote
A, soton says...
6:23pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Trish, says...
6:28pm Mon 18 Aug 08
****, southampton says...
7:43pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Julie, bitterne says...
7:43pm Mon 18 Aug 08
mandy&dylan, says...
7:54pm Mon 18 Aug 08
helen, tenerife/ bitternpark says...
8:09pm Mon 18 Aug 08
why, soton says...
8:24pm Mon 18 Aug 08
paul p, millbrook says...
9:07pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Bob, southampton says...
10:52pm Mon 18 Aug 08
anon, says...
3:57am Tue 19 Aug 08
anon, says...
4:20am Tue 19 Aug 08
ruby collins, millbrook says...
8:18am Tue 19 Aug 08
H, Southampton says...
9:26am Tue 19 Aug 08
pete,jo and summer, sholing, southampton says...
9:37am Tue 19 Aug 08
lawrence H, Big Cheese, Bitterne! says...
9:54am Tue 19 Aug 08
helen, tenerife/ bitternpark says...
10:33am Tue 19 Aug 08
wendi caroline Cropp, says...
11:43am Tue 19 Aug 08
anon, city centre says...
3:25pm Tue 19 Aug 08
Emma, Sholing says...
3:50pm Tue 19 Aug 08
Hannah x, southampton says...
4:15pm Tue 19 Aug 08
Kylie D, Lordswood says...
4:36pm Tue 19 Aug 08
anon, soton says...
5:41pm Tue 19 Aug 08
Tracie, Thornhill says...
9:54pm Tue 19 Aug 08
quote
quoteMy heart goes out to the familly and all traceys brothers and sisters, tracie was a good friend and we had some good times together and also with jade,you are a freind that i will miss dearly i will allways be thinking of you , like i have done with jade, RIP with jade! love Tracie and family
si, southampton says...
12:20am Wed 20 Aug 08
K, Soton says...
9:02am Mon 18 Aug 08