Mother and Baby’s Narrow Escape as Building Collapses in West Hampstead
A mother and her child had a terrifying brush with disaster when a huge chunk of masonry collapsed near them in West Hampstead on Monday morning.
12-Foot Masonry Piece Crashes Down
At around 9.35 a.m., emergency services rushed to the scene after a 12-foot section of masonry fell from between two Victorian buildings—both over 120 years old—at a busy junction.
A stunned witness described the terrifying moment: “It was a 12-foot piece of masonry between two sites that missed a mother pushing her baby in a buggy by inches. We couldn’t tell if she was screaming in pain from the falling stone or from the shock. It could have been a disaster; it was a total freak accident.”
Victorian Pillar Separates and Crashes
The witness added: “A pillar fell to the ground, narrowly missing a mother pushing a buggy. It’s just an elongated pillar with a newel post at the top that’s separated from the mortar and brick. It could have been a lot worse.”
Injuries Minor, but Shaken Up
London Ambulance Service confirmed crews assessed an adult and transported them to a minor injuries unit. Police said the injuries “are not thought to be life-threatening.”
This dramatic close call serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by ageing buildings in the capital.
