Woman dies in hostel plunge

The woman fell to her death at the Edinburgh Backpackers' Hostel

An investigation is under way into the death of a Canadian student who plunged from the roof of a backpackers' hostel in Edinburgh.

Elyse Powell, 20, from Saskatoon, fell from the building in Cockburn Street at about dawn.

She was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with critical injuries and later died.

Police said they were not treating the death at the Edinburgh Backpackers' Hostel as suspicious.

Four investigators began combing a narrow alley next to the hostel for clues. One was seen to retrieve a broken watch from one of the steps.

Guests 'shocked'

Police have been questioning guests, but none leaving the building was able to say what had happened.

One said she had heard shouting during the night.

An Edinburgh City Council spokeswoman said: "Our health and safety officers are at the scene helping police with their investigation."

A member of staff told how guests had been left "shattered" by the tragedy. "We can't really take it in at the moment," he said.

It's my first day here and I was a bit scared but I will probably stay for a few more days Marie-Eve Cyr

The hostel, which has about 15 rooms and offers dormitory beds and doubles from £13 to £20 a night, was not full at the time of the accident, he added.

Herb Fitzgerald, 54 and from Maryland, said: "I think it's terrible when anybody dies, but especially in this kind of way."

Eighteen-year-old Canadian Marie-Eve Cyr, who arrived at the hostel on Sunday night, added: "I just know that something has happened and people were shouting.

"It's my first day here and I was a bit scared but I will probably stay for a few more days."

The hostel is one of several in the capital offering cheap accommodation to young tourists.