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Two die in helicopter crane crash in Vauxhall, London Helicopter crash: Two dead after Vauxhall, London
(35 minutes later)
Two people have died after a helicopter crashed into a crane at a building site in central London in misty conditions, police have said.Two people have died after a helicopter crashed into a crane at a building site in central London in misty conditions, police have said.
Police said it appeared the helicopter had hit the crane on top of a building at about 08:00 GMT.Police said it appeared the helicopter had hit the crane on top of a building at about 08:00 GMT.
London Fire Brigade said the crash happened near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth and 60 firefighters were there. London Fire Brigade has 60 firefighters at the scene near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. They said one of the dead was in the helicopter.
Burning wreckage lay in the road, with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed. Burning wreckage lay in the road but the fire is now under control.
The incident caused gridlock as roads were closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station and railway station have been closed. A man rescued from a burning car by firefighters is one of two people taken to St Thomas' Hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
The fire brigade was also attending a second scene involving a crane in a precarious position on St George's Wharf. A lifeboat is searching the Thames after a request from London Heliport at Battersea which lost contact with one of its aircraft, an RNLI spokesman said.
'Enormous bang''Enormous bang'
The incident caused gridlock with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station and railway station closed.
The fire brigade was also at St George's Wharf to secure the damaged crane.
Video footage shot on a mobile phone showed an entire road blocked by burning wreckage and aviation fuel.Video footage shot on a mobile phone showed an entire road blocked by burning wreckage and aviation fuel.
The side of a building on one side of the street was also damaged by the flames.The side of a building on one side of the street was also damaged by the flames.
Passers-by stood watching as the wreckage burned. A motorcycle was also lying on its side in the road where it was abandoned.Passers-by stood watching as the wreckage burned. A motorcycle was also lying on its side in the road where it was abandoned.
Craig Dunne, who was walking to work at the time of the accident, said: "When I got to the end of the road there was a massive explosion and the crane is obviously in pieces.
'Clouds of smoke'
"And I looked to the left-hand side and there were cars - three cars on fire - people screaming shouting and hollering, and the next thing I know there are police, ambulances and everything everywhere and people going crazy. Its madness - absolute madness."
Ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground".Ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground".
He said: "The building the helicopter hit is shrouded in mist."He said: "The building the helicopter hit is shrouded in mist."
Vauxhall is one of the busiest parts of central London for road and rail traffic.
The area was cordoned off as emergency vehicles went to the scene of the crash.
Police said a "major critical incident" had occurred, as cars were turned back.
There were large tailbacks as commuters sought alternative routes through Chelsea, while Vauxhall Bridge was closed to cars and bicycles.
Crowds of people stood across the Thames to watch as police and ambulance boats rushed towards the crash site.
He said the crane at the top of the building was now hanging down the side of the building.He said the crane at the top of the building was now hanging down the side of the building.
Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, witnessed the crash.Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, witnessed the crash.
"I was walking towards Vauxhall tube station from Lambeth Palace area where I have a flat," she said. "I was walking towards Vauxhall Tube station from Lambeth Palace area where I have a flat," she said.
"There was suddenly an enormous bang - I thought something exploded."There was suddenly an enormous bang - I thought something exploded.
"It was coming from beyond Vauxhall tube station."It was coming from beyond Vauxhall tube station.
"Then clouds and clouds of black smoke."Then clouds and clouds of black smoke.
"I presumed what it was I heard was the crane collapsing or the helicopter crashing into it."I presumed what it was I heard was the crane collapsing or the helicopter crashing into it.
'Huge smoke cloud'
"I heard the bang then saw the clouds of smoke but there was too much in the way to see much at that point.""I heard the bang then saw the clouds of smoke but there was too much in the way to see much at that point."
Some witnesses reported the wreckage hitting two cars.
Witnesses reported seeing debris on the ground.
Quinn Murray was cycling when he saw the crash.Quinn Murray was cycling when he saw the crash.
He said: "I saw the helicopter hit the top of the crane and come down just to the left of the station.He said: "I saw the helicopter hit the top of the crane and come down just to the left of the station.
"There was quite a large amount of fire and a huge smoke cloud. It wasn't on the road, but into a building site where they are building the new Nine Elms area."There was quite a large amount of fire and a huge smoke cloud. It wasn't on the road, but into a building site where they are building the new Nine Elms area.
"There's a huge number of emergency services.""There's a huge number of emergency services."
Eyewitness Chris Matthison told BBC News: "There was some damage to the crane.Eyewitness Chris Matthison told BBC News: "There was some damage to the crane.
It's possible the crane is lying across Nine Elms road. "It's possible the crane is lying across Nine Elms road.
"The top of the nearest building is steeped in mist and difficult to see."The top of the nearest building is steeped in mist and difficult to see.
"I heard a very unusual dull thud, then there was silence. The silence really took my imagination. Emergency services responded very quickly.""I heard a very unusual dull thud, then there was silence. The silence really took my imagination. Emergency services responded very quickly."
Erin Rogers, who was waiting at a bus stop outside Vauxhall station, said: "It was a bit surreal actually. I just had a coffee in my hand, I looked up, heard a bang and saw bits of crane debris falling to the floor.Erin Rogers, who was waiting at a bus stop outside Vauxhall station, said: "It was a bit surreal actually. I just had a coffee in my hand, I looked up, heard a bang and saw bits of crane debris falling to the floor.
"Then the helicopter was in flames. The rest of the people at the bus station were looking on going 'What was that?'."Then the helicopter was in flames. The rest of the people at the bus station were looking on going 'What was that?'.
"It's something I will never forget for a long time.""It's something I will never forget for a long time."
Commuter Sherna Noah described seeing a "large plume of dark grey smoke" as she crossed Battersea Bridge at about 08:00 GMT. Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said: "My initial thought was that it might have hit one of the many densely populated tall buildings. To hear it had hit the crane was a relief in some way.
She said: "I was coming across the bridge and basically I could see a few cyclists on the bridge looking towards the water. "Police said to me that their first fear was it was the police helicopter, however, it had been grounded because of the weather."
"I looked over to see what they were looking at and could see a pall of grey smoke coming from the south side.
"You could see a large plume of dark grey smoke."
The Met told the BBC there was no suggestion the incident was linked to terrorism.The Met told the BBC there was no suggestion the incident was linked to terrorism.
Are you in Vauxhall? Did you see the crash? Please send through your experiences, and any pictures and videos you may have capturedAre you in Vauxhall? Did you see the crash? Please send through your experiences, and any pictures and videos you may have captured
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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