Domestic abuse charity hero who died after 'falling from high building' pictured

Daily Mirror

08-07-2025

The body of Rachel O'Hare, in her 40s, was found in Manchester city centre on the morning of June 30 as police say that her death is not being treated as suspicious
A woman who died after she fell from a high-rise building in a busy street was a domestic abuse charity worker.
Rachel O'Hare, originally from the Wirral and in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene in Manchester city centre on June 30. Emergency services were called to Great Ancoats Street at around 7am that day following reports of woman's body being found.
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The area around the Leonardo Hotel and Victoria House apartments was cordoned off as an investigation was subsequently launched. Police said her death was not being treated as suspicious, indicating that no third-party was involved in the tragedy.
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Ms O'Hare was originally from the Wirral but living in Manchester at the time of her death. She co-founded a charity called Elle for Elle that worked to help vulnerable women in refuges.
The company's aim was to support women in need with basic toiletries and beauty products, with the charity's work said to have been praised in Westminster. The charity was dissolved in 2022, according to Companies House.
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Ms O'Hare, thought to be a mum of three, is also believed to have held a role with The Cheshire Magazine, where she coordinated charity events in the Cheshire area and beyond.
Speaking to a local media outlet in 2018 at the launch of Elle for Elle , she said: "We've been overwhelmed with the amount of support we've had already but we have high hopes for Elle for Elle. The ultimate aim is to take this nationwide to all 305 refuges and help the tens of thousands of homeless women and children in the UK.'
By the start of January 2019, more than £30,000 worth of beauty products had been donated in a shoebox appeal. Ms O'Hare had said:" Christmas is a time when domestic abuse is on the rise, but all throughout the year we support women in crisis. These boxes will be a real treat for women following the hardship and suffering they have had to face from their abusers. We can't thank all of our supporters enough for being so generous and kind.'
Greater Manchester Police said at the time: "We were called to Great Ancoats Street at about 7am to reports the body of a woman had been found. It appears she has fallen from a building but officers are currently investigating to determine the circumstances."
Paul Melis, 34, a Dutch tourist who was staying at the Leonardo Hotel next door, said: "It's very sad. We had something to eat and came back at midnight and nothing had happened. Then we were told the police were there and a woman was found on the pavement after falling from the flats," reports the MailOnline.
One worker said: 'I was told she had fallen from one of the upper flats. I think she was a resident but I'm not sure who she was.'
Builder Matt Armstrong, 29, described how there were lots of police when he arrived at the scene with many people looking stunned by what had happened. "People walking to work had seen the body. It's shocking," he said.
While another worker believed Ms O'Hare had fallen from one of the "upper flats" where she was possibly a resident.
Manchester Coroners' Court confirmed that a file of evidence in respect of Ms O'Hare's death has been received. However, no date for an inquest opening has so far been set.