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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| London helicopter crash: Residents still to return home | London helicopter crash: Residents still to return home |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Up to 40 people who were asked to leave their homes after a helicopter crashed into a crane in central London have spent the night away from their homes. | Up to 40 people who were asked to leave their homes after a helicopter crashed into a crane in central London have spent the night away from their homes. |
| Police said debris from Wednesday's crash in South Lambeth was scattered over a large area including rooftops and some homes were inaccessible. | Police said debris from Wednesday's crash in South Lambeth was scattered over a large area including rooftops and some homes were inaccessible. |
| Crane operator Nicki Biagioni, 30, of Essex, said he was "very lucky" to avoid the crash as he had overslept. | |
| Pete Barnes, the pilot, and pedestrian Matthew Wood were killed in the crash. | |
| Mr Barnes, 50, from near Reading in Berkshire, had flown for Redhill firm Rotormotion for 15 years and has been described by colleagues as "highly skilled". | Mr Barnes, 50, from near Reading in Berkshire, had flown for Redhill firm Rotormotion for 15 years and has been described by colleagues as "highly skilled". |
| Mr Wood, 39, from Sutton, was killed as he made his way to his job at Rentokil. | Mr Wood, 39, from Sutton, was killed as he made his way to his job at Rentokil. |
| A statement from the firm said: "A sad day for us all. | A statement from the firm said: "A sad day for us all. |
| "Our colleague, Matt Wood, was fatally injured yesterday in the helicopter crash in Vauxhall as he walked to work." | "Our colleague, Matt Wood, was fatally injured yesterday in the helicopter crash in Vauxhall as he walked to work." |
| Speaking about the morning of the crash, father-of-two Mr Biagioni, said he is usually woken up for work at 05:00 GMT by his children. | |
| But on Wednesday, he said his children did not wake up until an hour later, and that saved his life. | |
| He said: "I'm very lucky. It is unbelievable, I am still in shock, I can't believe it. | |
| "If it wasn't for my boys not waking me up that would have been it." | |
| Broken leg | Broken leg |
| An investigation is now under way into why the helicopter hit the crane on The Tower, One St George Wharf, in South Lambeth on Wednesday morning. | An investigation is now under way into why the helicopter hit the crane on The Tower, One St George Wharf, in South Lambeth on Wednesday morning. |
| Twelve people were injured and five of them were taken to hospital. One person suffered a broken leg while the others had minor injuries. | Twelve people were injured and five of them were taken to hospital. One person suffered a broken leg while the others had minor injuries. |
| Cars and two buildings caught fire after the burning wreckage from the helicopter fell into Wandsworth Road, which remains closed. | |
| Eyewitnesses said people in the area "ran screaming" as flaming debris fell from above. | Eyewitnesses said people in the area "ran screaming" as flaming debris fell from above. |
| Blazing helicopter fuel and wreckage covered part of the street. | Blazing helicopter fuel and wreckage covered part of the street. |
| Michael Krumstets was on his way to work when he saw the helicopter hit the crane. | Michael Krumstets was on his way to work when he saw the helicopter hit the crane. |
| He said: "It started spinning out of control and directly towards us. It took just seconds for this to happen." | He said: "It started spinning out of control and directly towards us. It took just seconds for this to happen." |
| People were asked to leave several buildings in the area near The Tower, including apartments in St George Wharf. | People were asked to leave several buildings in the area near The Tower, including apartments in St George Wharf. |
| 'Rapid response' | 'Rapid response' |
| Nabila Fowles-Gutierrez, 39, who lives in Armada House in St George Wharf, said fire alarms were going off in her building but no-one came forward with any clear information, leaving residents "confused and worried". | Nabila Fowles-Gutierrez, 39, who lives in Armada House in St George Wharf, said fire alarms were going off in her building but no-one came forward with any clear information, leaving residents "confused and worried". |
| She said: "It was really quite panicky and very upsetting. | She said: "It was really quite panicky and very upsetting. |
| "The residents weren't really updated properly and we still haven't been properly communicated with." | "The residents weren't really updated properly and we still haven't been properly communicated with." |
| Lambeth Councillor Lib Peck said people in the area had complained about helicopters. | Lambeth Councillor Lib Peck said people in the area had complained about helicopters. |
| She said: "People have raised the issue of safety. | She said: "People have raised the issue of safety. |
| "I mean clearly the skyline of London has changed dramatically in the last five, 10, 15 years and obviously the build-up is around the river area. | "I mean clearly the skyline of London has changed dramatically in the last five, 10, 15 years and obviously the build-up is around the river area. |
| "And it is something that we will be raising in the light of this incident with the local MPs and the mayor." | "And it is something that we will be raising in the light of this incident with the local MPs and the mayor." |
| Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson both paid tribute to the "rapid and professional response" of the emergency services. | Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson both paid tribute to the "rapid and professional response" of the emergency services. |
| The BBC Weather Centre said observations at the time of the crash on Wednesday showed very low but not thick fog. | The BBC Weather Centre said observations at the time of the crash on Wednesday showed very low but not thick fog. |
| Mr Johnson said lights on cranes and tall buildings would be reviewed following the crash. | Mr Johnson said lights on cranes and tall buildings would be reviewed following the crash. |
| The closure of several roads would be reviewed after midday, the Met said. | |
| Wandsworth Road and Nine Elms Lane remain closed between Vauxhall Cross and Queenstown Road and up to eight bus routes are on diversion. | Wandsworth Road and Nine Elms Lane remain closed between Vauxhall Cross and Queenstown Road and up to eight bus routes are on diversion. |
| The road closures have led to delays and congestion in the area around Battersea Rise, Battersea Park Road, Albert Bridge Road, Clapham, Camberwell, Oval, Clapham Road, Kennington and Millbank. | The road closures have led to delays and congestion in the area around Battersea Rise, Battersea Park Road, Albert Bridge Road, Clapham, Camberwell, Oval, Clapham Road, Kennington and Millbank. |