This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/5383830.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Crane deaths building site closed | Crane deaths building site closed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Construction workers have gathered to pay their respects at the site of a fatal crane crash in south-west London. | Construction workers have gathered to pay their respects at the site of a fatal crane crash in south-west London. |
| Two people died when a 165ft (50m) crane collapsed onto a block of flats on Tuesday afternoon. | Two people died when a 165ft (50m) crane collapsed onto a block of flats on Tuesday afternoon. |
| The driver of the crane at a building site in Battersea died along with a man who was crushed as he washed his car. The site has been closed. | The driver of the crane at a building site in Battersea died along with a man who was crushed as he washed his car. The site has been closed. |
| A third man is said to be in hospital with minor injuries. The Health and Safety Executive is investigating. | A third man is said to be in hospital with minor injuries. The Health and Safety Executive is investigating. |
| The site was cordoned off by police overnight and a bouquet of flowers was attached to the fence. | The site was cordoned off by police overnight and a bouquet of flowers was attached to the fence. |
| Workers from construction company Barrett gathered across the road from the site on Wednesday morning. | Workers from construction company Barrett gathered across the road from the site on Wednesday morning. |
| The flats were evacuated after the crane collapsed and police said no-one inside was hurt. It has been reported the crane operator was thrown out of the cab. | |
| Workers in nearby buildings were told the road leading to the site would be closed again later on Wednesday to allow two other cranes to remove the wreckage. | Workers in nearby buildings were told the road leading to the site would be closed again later on Wednesday to allow two other cranes to remove the wreckage. |
| Residents, who live next to the site, described the collapse as like a bomb going off. | Residents, who live next to the site, described the collapse as like a bomb going off. |
| Police, ambulance staff and firefighters were called shortly before 1800 BST on Tuesday to the site in Battersea Park. | Police, ambulance staff and firefighters were called shortly before 1800 BST on Tuesday to the site in Battersea Park. |
| Local resident Ron Brown said: "I just heard a massive bang and I thought a bomb had gone off. Then I saw loads of dust go up. | Local resident Ron Brown said: "I just heard a massive bang and I thought a bomb had gone off. Then I saw loads of dust go up. |
| "I saw the front end of the crane had hit a block of flats and before I knew it the emergency services were crawling all over the place. | "I saw the front end of the crane had hit a block of flats and before I knew it the emergency services were crawling all over the place. |
| Witness Joanna Herrera, said: "I was sitting at home when there was a huge bang. I went outside. There was a guy on top of a crane and a guy washing his car. All you could see was his leg underneath." | |
| When I went past the building that was damaged all the windows were blown out Eyewitness Ron Brown | When I went past the building that was damaged all the windows were blown out Eyewitness Ron Brown |
| Tony Ddumba, 16, said he was talking to the man who died just moments before he was crushed by the crane. | Tony Ddumba, 16, said he was talking to the man who died just moments before he was crushed by the crane. |
| "I saw the stones falling first and as they fell down, I saw the crane wobbling and I thought something was going on," he said. | "I saw the stones falling first and as they fell down, I saw the crane wobbling and I thought something was going on," he said. |
| A number of residents said they had complained to the council earlier on Tuesday about the proximity of the crane to their homes, although Wandsworth Council could not confirm this. | A number of residents said they had complained to the council earlier on Tuesday about the proximity of the crane to their homes, although Wandsworth Council could not confirm this. |
| 'Unusual incident' | |
| A police spokesman said 25 flats and maisonettes on the Patmore Estate were evacuated. | |
| Martin Linton, Labour MP for Battersea, said: "This tragic incident happened when the jib of the crane broke off the mast. | |
| "It's a very unusual incident. The jib fell on to a local resident who was standing in the courtyard of the flats. The driver was thrown out of the crane, as I understand it." | |
| He said residents had been moved from the block of flats to a hotel in Brent Cross, north London. | |
| He said he hoped they would be moved to hotels closer to Battersea and allowed back to collect their possessions. | |
| The road outside the site was closed overnight | The road outside the site was closed overnight |
| Det Supt Guy Ferguson, of Wandsworth police, said a joint investigation into the accident was under way. | Det Supt Guy Ferguson, of Wandsworth police, said a joint investigation into the accident was under way. |
| "The sequence of events is yet to be established, and that will be done by ourselves, the Met Police and the Health and Safety Executive, who have been contacted." | "The sequence of events is yet to be established, and that will be done by ourselves, the Met Police and the Health and Safety Executive, who have been contacted." |
| In a statement, Barrett said it was co-operating with the investigation authorities. | |
| "Our own health and safety team and a senior management team are present on site," he said. "We will also be carrying out our own investigation." | "Our own health and safety team and a senior management team are present on site," he said. "We will also be carrying out our own investigation." |