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Knightsbridge balcony collapse: Two dead, six injured | Knightsbridge balcony collapse: Two dead, six injured |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two men have died and six other people have been injured after part of a balcony collapsed in west London. | Two men have died and six other people have been injured after part of a balcony collapsed in west London. |
Railings on the balcony of a building at Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge, collapsed at about 10:00 GMT, London Ambulance Service (LAS) said. | Railings on the balcony of a building at Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge, collapsed at about 10:00 GMT, London Ambulance Service (LAS) said. |
The deceased were removal men who were moving a sofa, according to an MP. | The deceased were removal men who were moving a sofa, according to an MP. |
Eight people were treated for injuries with one man dying at the scene and another dying after being taken to hospital, LAS said. | Eight people were treated for injuries with one man dying at the scene and another dying after being taken to hospital, LAS said. |
Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands tweeted: "Balcony collapse in Cadogan Sq. Just spoke with Cadogan Ests [Cadogan Estates, a property company], not their property, but believe balcony broke when the removal men were moving a sofa out and the combined weight might have broken it. | Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands tweeted: "Balcony collapse in Cadogan Sq. Just spoke with Cadogan Ests [Cadogan Estates, a property company], not their property, but believe balcony broke when the removal men were moving a sofa out and the combined weight might have broken it. |
"Casualties were removal staff. My thoughts are with their families." | "Casualties were removal staff. My thoughts are with their families." |
Sudarma Rajapaksha, who works in a neighbouring building, said: "My colleague heard the noise, the sofa had fallen down." | Sudarma Rajapaksha, who works in a neighbouring building, said: "My colleague heard the noise, the sofa had fallen down." |
Raj Ramanoop, who was close to the scene when the incident happened, said: "I was down the street there - a friend said there has been an accident and then the air ambulance came down. | Raj Ramanoop, who was close to the scene when the incident happened, said: "I was down the street there - a friend said there has been an accident and then the air ambulance came down. |
"Then I knew something serious had happened. I heard that it was a sofa that was either going out or going in." | "Then I knew something serious had happened. I heard that it was a sofa that was either going out or going in." |
A neighbour, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC News: "They were trying to pull a couch up to the first-floor apartment with ropes. Was apparently too heavy. The fence broke off and fell on the workmen below." | A neighbour, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC News: "They were trying to pull a couch up to the first-floor apartment with ropes. Was apparently too heavy. The fence broke off and fell on the workmen below." |
Cadogan Square is made up of residential properties, with many of the buildings divided into flats. | Cadogan Square is made up of residential properties, with many of the buildings divided into flats. |
The first-floor balcony is believed to have been connected to property number 37, a five-storey terraced building. | The first-floor balcony is believed to have been connected to property number 37, a five-storey terraced building. |
The decorative wrought-iron railing appears to have fallen about 10m (33ft) to the ground although the stone base of the balcony looks undamaged. | |
A number of long ropes are hanging from the balcony to the ground where plastic sheets are gathered. | A number of long ropes are hanging from the balcony to the ground where plastic sheets are gathered. |
A police tent has been erected on the pavement below and the street has been closed to the public. | A police tent has been erected on the pavement below and the street has been closed to the public. |
Surveying company Select Services, whose employees were working nearby but not involved in the incident, said one of its workers had witnessed the events and was subsequently treated for shock. | |
He has been sent home to recover by the company. | |
LAS said it sent three ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, the hazardous response team and a London air ambulance to the scene. | |
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: "When we arrived we made the scene safe, securing parts of the iron balcony that had broken away in the fall." | |
Police are in the process of identifying the dead men's next of kin while an investigation is under way to establish the circumstances. | Police are in the process of identifying the dead men's next of kin while an investigation is under way to establish the circumstances. |
The Health and Safety Executive and the local authority have been informed. | The Health and Safety Executive and the local authority have been informed. |
Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Share your pictures with us, email yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, or tweet @BBC_HaveYourSay. | Share your pictures with us, email yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, or tweet @BBC_HaveYourSay. |
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