A vicar’s daughter fell to her death while attempting to escape from a house where she had allegedly been held captive by a gang of teenage girls.

Rosimeiri Boxall, 19, is believed to have been locked in a top-floor room of a hostel in Blackheath, southeast London, for several hours before climbing out of a window.

A 17-year-old girl who was living at the hostel and a 13-year-old have been arrested and bailed over the death. Detectives believe that Ms Boxall had been visiting friends at the hostel on Saturday afternoon.

Her father, the Rev Simon Boxall, said yesterday that his daughter had “been at the wrong time at the wrong place”. He said that she had left home some years ago and was living with friends.

“She fell, or came out of the window, and that’s as far as we know,” said Mr Boxall, 53, a Church of England vicar at the ecumenical Open Gateway Community Church in Thamesmead, southeast London. “It is a delicate time right now and the police are still in the midst of trying to find out what happened. It’s not fair or right for me to say anything at this stage as it may prejudice this investigation.”

Mr Boxall adopted his daughter - known as Rosi - during the 20 years he spent as a missionary in Brazil. Mr Boxall was chaplain to the English-speaking people of Rio de Janeiro and his wife, Rachel, had been a teacher at the city’s British School. The family returned to Britain in 2004.

The Boxall family said in a statement: “The loss of Rosimeiri, a much-loved sister and daughter, has left a void in this close-knit family that cannot be filled. Rosi was a loving, caring person who brought frequently remembered times of fun and laughter to the family and who was much loved by her three nieces. More than just a daughter and sister, she was also a great friend.”

Ms Boxall, the youngest of five children, had been taking a childcare course at Plumstead College but had dropped out and was looking for a job. Josh Boxall, one of her four brothers, said: “There are still a lot of blanks that need to be filled in and doubt, which we are trying to understand. She had moved out and was living with friends. We don’t know if she had a permanent address as she would stay with different friends.

“Although she did not live here, she would drop back to say hello occasionally and she would call on her mobile.”

Neighbours of the hostel in Coleraine Road, where detached houses sell for £1 million, have said that they heard people arguing in the house at about the time that Ms Boxall fell on Saturday evening. Some of the hostel’s residents are believed to be on bail awaiting trial.

One local resident said: “There was a big argument there at around 6.30pm. It was very loud, a real racket, and sounded very extreme, so I thought I should call the police. I heard a bloke shouting outside, incredibly loudly. He was saying something like, ‘Don’t touch her, leave her alone’. It sounded like two blokes and a girl. I thought one bloke was standing up for the girl. Then there was an almighty crashing sound.”

Detective Inspector Bob Meade, who is leading the investigation, said: “We believe the house was being used as temporary accommodation for young people. Rosimeiri was not living there. What she was doing there is something that is still under investigation.

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