Hong Kong: British businessman Nick Cousins arrested after daughter falls to death

A British businessman and a Filipino woman have been arrested in Hong Kong after their 15-year-old daughter fell to her death from a luxury apartment block.

Nick Cousins, 58, and the girl's 53-year-old mother were arrested on suspicion of ill treatment or neglect of a child or a young person after the teenager fell from the 21-storey building in Repulse Bay.

Police said there was "no suspicious element" in the girl's death. The 15-year-old is reported to have locked herself in the bathroom before her fall.

Police believe the girl was "unhappy with her life" and investigations suggest both her and her sister's birth were never registered in Hong Kong and neither were formally registered in school.

Cousins' daughters were reportedly born in a private hospital in 1999 and 2000 – but there is no evidence to suggest the parents applied for birth certificates or passports.

Cousins, the Hong Kong managing director of the insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT), is said to have met with his wife, named locally as Grace, in the early 1990s after arriving in Hong Kong as she worked as his domestic helper.

Police are also examining whether Grace had overstayed her visa and whether Cousins had assisted her in doing so.

A police spokesperson said: "The security guard called the police and the girl was certified dead at the scene.

"Initial investigations showed there were no suspicious circumstances and she was suspected to have fallen from a height.

"We arrested a 53-year-old Filipino female for overstaying and a 58-year-old British male for aiding and abetting an overstayer.

"Both have also been arrested for suspected ill-treatment of the girl and are currently being detained while the investigation is impending.

"Our investigations indicate the girl was unhappy with her life."

JLT said in a statement: "We can confirm that our colleague Nick Cousins, the managing director of our Hong Kong office, has suffered the loss of his eldest daughter in tragic circumstances.

"We are giving Nick our full support through this difficult time and he will be on extended compassionate leave until further notice.

"We are aware that the authorities are investigating a number of matters that have come to light in the wake of this tragic event, which has led to some unfortunate media speculation.

"As these are private matters, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further and we would ask that the family's privacy is respected. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nick and his family."

Samaritans provide support to those in distress. They can be contacted on 08457 90 90 90 or via email: jo@samaritans.org.uk.