Miraculously, no-one was hurt when the structure collapsed outside the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, North London, as the capital was battered by 55mph winds
A HUGE scaffolding structure dramatically collapsed onto the pavement outside a busy hospital yesterday
Miraculously, no-one was hurt when the four-storey structure fell from the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, North London, at around 2.50pm.
The incident came as London was battered by 55mph winds this afternoon.
Eyewitnesses said bricks began tumbling down onto the pavement below a short time before the scaffolding collapsed.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed no injuries had been reported.
A spokesperson for the Royal Free Hospital said: “We are on standby following the collapse of scaffolding at a building opposite the Royal Free Hospital.
“To date we have not been required to treat any patients in relation to the incident.
“We are continuing with planned appointments although transport to and from the hospital is affected. Please allow extra time for your journey if you have an appointment.”
Hilary Barnes told the Camden New Journal: “I was going up towards to Hampstead and we stopped outside M&S – thank God.
“As we were waiting there this whole thing, it goes up the whole of the building, it started to very slowly go outward and then it buckled. It was extraordinary.
“There was an awful lot of screaming. Ambulances were charging down there within seconds. It looked like the wind called the polythene and the scaffolding came away.”
London Fire Brigade confirmed crews were called at around 2.50pm this afternoon.
A fire brigade spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a scaffolding collapse on the roadway in Pond Street.
“We currently have two fire engines and three fire rescue units on the scene. We were called at 14.48.”
