A man has died after reportedly being crushed by a pane of falling glass from the 27th floor of a luxury new development on London’s Thames riverside.
The window is thought to have fallen from the Corniche building, a Foster and Partners project, on Albert Embankment.
A Met Police spokesman told the Telegraph: “The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Inquiries are under way to trace his next of kin.
“At this early stage in the investigation, it is believed he was hit by something falling from a building.”
London Ambulance confirmed that it was called to the scene, where the victim was already dead.
Foster and Partners are the firm behind the design of London’s Gherkin building, which had a window pane fall out of it in 2005, and Old Spitalfields Market.
The HSE has been made aware of the incident and is working with the Metropolitan Police.
Glass Safety & Security Risk Assessor, James Allen, said he hopes this will prompt change: “This is a very tragic event to have happened.
“There have been near misses in the past with just the glass falling out from height, just like at 125 Old Broad Street in London over an eight-year period, but it’s a rarity for the whole frame to come out.
“Objects falling from facades of buildings must not be allowed to happen and I hope that people take note of this event and make suitable arrangements to have their own buildings checked for serious defaults.”
