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Woman killed by falling window in London's Mayfair | Woman killed by falling window in London's Mayfair |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman has died after being crushed when two window frames fell from a building in central London. | A woman has died after being crushed when two window frames fell from a building in central London. |
It is understood she was hit by the wooden frames of a ground-floor window in Hanover Street, Mayfair. | |
A witness told BBC London the woman was eating her lunch when she was struck on her chest. | A witness told BBC London the woman was eating her lunch when she was struck on her chest. |
London Ambulance and police were called at 11:30 BST. The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead by paramedics. | London Ambulance and police were called at 11:30 BST. The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead by paramedics. |
The building, 5 Hanover Square, is a multimillion-pound development comprising six floors of office space. The ground floor is in the process of being turned into an art gallery. | |
Scaffolding was removed from the outside of the building a few weeks ago. | Scaffolding was removed from the outside of the building a few weeks ago. |
Orla Wojtowitz said it "happened in a second". | Orla Wojtowitz said it "happened in a second". |
"She was just passing and then she was suddenly lying on the pavement," she said. | |
Another witness, who did not want to be identified, said the victim saw the frame beginning to fall but could not move out of the way in time. | |
A delivery driver who made the 999 call following the incident said he and 10 other people helped to lift the concrete frame off the woman which had "flattened" her. | |
The man, who did not want to be named, said: "I heard this incredible loud bang, the guy next to me said 'what the hell is that?', pointing. | |
"I turned round and the frame was on the ground and I was hoping it was a coat underneath, but then I saw an arm. | |
"I realised it was a person underneath so I phoned 999. The operator asked me to go closer to the victim so I got off the back of my wagon and went over. | |
"Her eyes were open and I saw her hand move and then I think I saw her last breath and then the light went out, she'd gone." | |
He said ambulance crews arrived about a minute or two later. | |
"She was in exactly the wrong place at the wrong time." | |
Beverley Hazel, another witness, said she was on her way to work in nearby Conduit Street at 11:30 BST when she saw a young woman "half lying in the road". | Beverley Hazel, another witness, said she was on her way to work in nearby Conduit Street at 11:30 BST when she saw a young woman "half lying in the road". |
"A man was saying to her 'can you hear me?' but I don't think there was any response. It had just happened," she said. | "A man was saying to her 'can you hear me?' but I don't think there was any response. It had just happened," she said. |
"Then there was a lady who said she was a doctor. She got on with doing CPR and I counted three minutes for her." | "Then there was a lady who said she was a doctor. She got on with doing CPR and I counted three minutes for her." |
'I was in bits' | |
Mrs Hazel, who lives in Kennington Oval, south London, said she believed the victim was hit by two "massive" wooden window frames, measuring about 10ft by 10ft (3m). | |
"She was very young and slight. I've got two daughters, one younger and one older than this woman. I was in bits. | "She was very young and slight. I've got two daughters, one younger and one older than this woman. I was in bits. |
"If it had been my daughter I would have wanted someone with her. | "If it had been my daughter I would have wanted someone with her. |
"I went back later to lay some flowers." | "I went back later to lay some flowers." |
Golam Mortuza, who works in the nearby Eat sandwich chain, was on his break when the incident happened. He said paramedics tried to revive the woman for 30 minutes. | Golam Mortuza, who works in the nearby Eat sandwich chain, was on his break when the incident happened. He said paramedics tried to revive the woman for 30 minutes. |
"Life is so difficult. She was walking around and then this happened. It could have happened to anyone." | "Life is so difficult. She was walking around and then this happened. It could have happened to anyone." |
The Health and Safety Executive is aware of the incident, police said. | The Health and Safety Executive is aware of the incident, police said. |
London Ambulance said it sent two cycle responders, two ambulance crews and a hazardous area response team and an air ambulance to the scene. | London Ambulance said it sent two cycle responders, two ambulance crews and a hazardous area response team and an air ambulance to the scene. |
Hanover Square has been closed between Brook Street and St George Street. | Hanover Square has been closed between Brook Street and St George Street. |
The 8, 25 and 55 bus routes have been diverted. |