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| London helicopter crash: Crane driver feels 'lucky' he was late | London helicopter crash: Crane driver feels 'lucky' he was late |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A crane operator who was late for work when a helicopter crashed into the crane he works on said he had overslept and now feels "very lucky". | A crane operator who was late for work when a helicopter crashed into the crane he works on said he had overslept and now feels "very lucky". |
| Nicki Biagioni, 30, of Essex, said his two sons wake him up at 05:00 GMT but on Wednesday they slept an hour later. | Nicki Biagioni, 30, of Essex, said his two sons wake him up at 05:00 GMT but on Wednesday they slept an hour later. |
| Pete Barnes, the pilot, and pedestrian Matthew Wood were killed in the crash in South Lambeth. | Pete Barnes, the pilot, and pedestrian Matthew Wood were killed in the crash in South Lambeth. |
| Up to 40 people, who were asked to leave their central London properties, spent the night away from their homes. | |
| Police said some of the buildings were inaccessible because debris was scattered over a large area including rooftops. | Police said some of the buildings were inaccessible because debris was scattered over a large area including rooftops. |
| 'Still in shock' | 'Still in shock' |
| Speaking about the morning of the crash Mr Biagioni said on Wednesday his young children did not wake up until an hour later, and that saved his life. | Speaking about the morning of the crash Mr Biagioni said on Wednesday his young children did not wake up until an hour later, and that saved his life. |
| He said: "I'm very lucky. It is unbelievable, I am still in shock, I can't believe it. | He said: "I'm very lucky. It is unbelievable, I am still in shock, I can't believe it. |
| "If it wasn't for my boys not waking me up that would have been it." | "If it wasn't for my boys not waking me up that would have been it." |
| The pilot, 50-year-old Mr Barnes, from near Reading in Berkshire, had flown for Redhill firm Rotormotion for 15 years and has been described by colleagues as "highly skilled". | The pilot, 50-year-old Mr Barnes, from near Reading in Berkshire, had flown for Redhill firm Rotormotion for 15 years and has been described by colleagues as "highly skilled". |
| Mr Wood, 39, from Sutton, was killed as he made his way to his job at Rentokil. | Mr Wood, 39, from Sutton, was killed as he made his way to his job at Rentokil. |
| A statement from the firm said: "A sad day for us all. | A statement from the firm said: "A sad day for us all. |
| "Our colleague, Matt Wood, was fatally injured yesterday in the helicopter crash in Vauxhall as he walked to work." | "Our colleague, Matt Wood, was fatally injured yesterday in the helicopter crash in Vauxhall as he walked to work." |
| Mr Woods' next door neighbour Yvonne Humphries, 63, said: "He lived on his own but he was always having friends round - he had lived here for about 12 years. | |
| "I just can't believe it - I was listening to the news this morning and they said someone from Sutton died, I can't believe it's him. | |
| "He was just a lovely, cuddly guy." | |
| An investigation is now under way into why the helicopter hit the crane on The Tower, One St George Wharf, in South Lambeth on Wednesday morning. | An investigation is now under way into why the helicopter hit the crane on The Tower, One St George Wharf, in South Lambeth on Wednesday morning. |
| Twelve people were injured and five of them were taken to hospital. One person suffered a broken leg while the others had minor injuries. | Twelve people were injured and five of them were taken to hospital. One person suffered a broken leg while the others had minor injuries. |
| Cars and two buildings caught fire after the burning wreckage from the helicopter fell into Wandsworth Road, which remains closed. | Cars and two buildings caught fire after the burning wreckage from the helicopter fell into Wandsworth Road, which remains closed. |
| Eyewitnesses said people in the area "ran screaming" as flaming debris fell from above. | Eyewitnesses said people in the area "ran screaming" as flaming debris fell from above. |
| Michael Krumstets was on his way to work with a friend when he saw the helicopter "spinning out of control and [coming] directly towards us" after the collision. | Michael Krumstets was on his way to work with a friend when he saw the helicopter "spinning out of control and [coming] directly towards us" after the collision. |
| People were asked to leave several buildings in the area near The Tower, including apartments in Riverside Court, Nine Elms Lane, and in St George Wharf. | People were asked to leave several buildings in the area near The Tower, including apartments in Riverside Court, Nine Elms Lane, and in St George Wharf. |
| Residents in a block of 99 flats in Riverside Court were among those evacuated on Wednesday morning. | Residents in a block of 99 flats in Riverside Court were among those evacuated on Wednesday morning. |
| Most residents found shelter with friends but two women, who are from France and Australia and did not have friends in London, said they were "left stranded" the whole night. | Most residents found shelter with friends but two women, who are from France and Australia and did not have friends in London, said they were "left stranded" the whole night. |
| 'Frustrated, sleepy, dirty' | 'Frustrated, sleepy, dirty' |
| One of them, a 31-year-old graphic designer who did not want to be named, said: "Last night it was getting dark and freezing and we just walked around all night. | One of them, a 31-year-old graphic designer who did not want to be named, said: "Last night it was getting dark and freezing and we just walked around all night. |
| "I am frustrated, sleepy, dirty, and I need to go to work". | "I am frustrated, sleepy, dirty, and I need to go to work". |
| They have returned to their apartments but said that many residents did not know that they could return on Wednesday evening. | |
| The pair said no-one told them that Wandsworth and Lambeth Council had set up a shelter for those affected. Wandsworth Council said earlier that no-one sought accommodation there. | The pair said no-one told them that Wandsworth and Lambeth Council had set up a shelter for those affected. Wandsworth Council said earlier that no-one sought accommodation there. |
| Nabila Fowles-Gutierrez, 39, who lives in Armada House in St George Wharf, did not have to leave her home but said fire alarms kept going off and no-one came forward with any clear information. | Nabila Fowles-Gutierrez, 39, who lives in Armada House in St George Wharf, did not have to leave her home but said fire alarms kept going off and no-one came forward with any clear information. |
| She said: "It was really quite panicky and very upsetting. | She said: "It was really quite panicky and very upsetting. |
| "The residents weren't really updated properly and we still haven't been properly communicated with." | "The residents weren't really updated properly and we still haven't been properly communicated with." |
| Lambeth Councillor Lib Peck said people in the area had previously complained about helicopters. | Lambeth Councillor Lib Peck said people in the area had previously complained about helicopters. |
| She said: "People have raised the issue of safety. | She said: "People have raised the issue of safety. |
| "I mean clearly the skyline of London has changed dramatically in the last five, 10, 15 years and obviously the build-up is around the river area. | "I mean clearly the skyline of London has changed dramatically in the last five, 10, 15 years and obviously the build-up is around the river area. |
| "And it is something that we will be raising in the light of this incident with the local MPs and the mayor." | "And it is something that we will be raising in the light of this incident with the local MPs and the mayor." |
| Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson both paid tribute to the "rapid and professional response" of the emergency services. | Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson both paid tribute to the "rapid and professional response" of the emergency services. |
| The BBC Weather Centre said observations at the time of the crash on Wednesday showed very low but not thick fog. | The BBC Weather Centre said observations at the time of the crash on Wednesday showed very low but not thick fog. |
| Mr Johnson said lights on cranes and tall buildings would now be reviewed. | Mr Johnson said lights on cranes and tall buildings would now be reviewed. |
| The closure of several roads was being reconsidered after midday, the Met said. | The closure of several roads was being reconsidered after midday, the Met said. |
| Wandsworth Road and Nine Elms Lane remain closed between Vauxhall Cross and Queenstown Road and up to eight bus routes are on diversion. | Wandsworth Road and Nine Elms Lane remain closed between Vauxhall Cross and Queenstown Road and up to eight bus routes are on diversion. |
| The road closures led to delays and congestion in the area during the rush hour. | The road closures led to delays and congestion in the area during the rush hour. |