PEOPLE in Kidderminster have been shaken by the death of an 18-year-old man who plunged, feet first, from the top floor of a town centre car park.

Clusters of flowers and balloons were attached to the railings of the Swan Centre car park in Blackwell Street in tribute to Luke Willetts, who fell to his death last Friday.

The incident happened when the Betjeman Court resident went shopping in the town with his grandmother, Lorna Richardson.

At the opening of the inquest in Stourport, on Tuesday, coroner Victor Round said the student was visiting his solicitor and had asked his grandmother to pull over in the car so he could visit the toilets in the Swan shopping centre.

While Mrs Richardson parked, Luke was seen on CCTV taking the lift up to the car park.

In a statement, a witness said he saw a man drop off a ledge, feet first. Police confirmed they believed the fall to be from the top floor at around 10.15am.

The county air ambulance took the teenager to Selly Oak Hospital Birmingham but he died just after 2pm the same day, due to multiple injuries.

The death of the student, who was being treated at Woodbourne Priory, a psychiatric hospital in Edgbaston, struck a chord with many people who have attached flowers with tributes near the car park entrance during the week since.

Sentiments included among the tributes, read: "I wish I could have been the one to save you Luke. I miss you. Goodnight until we meet again." Another said: "We'll always remember the good times. You'll always be in our hearts."

Several onlookers, including florist Kelli Turrall, who works at Frocks and Flowers in Blackwell Street, witnessed the fall. She was loading a van outside the shop when the incident happened.

She said: "I was outside when I saw the last bit of the fall. I knew what had happened right away and went straight into the shop to call an ambulance. I just went into shock and felt quite hysterical.

"It really is so sad. I think the fact he is so young is what has really hit everyone. It's a real tragedy."

The inquest into Luke's death was opened and adjourned on Tuesday.

Investigations are continuing. Anyone who was near the car park around the time of the incident and has any information to help inquiries, is asked to call the police on 08457 444888.