Mother and Baby’s Close Call as Wall Collapses in West Hampstead
12-Foot Masonry Nearly Crushes Woman with Baby Buggy
A mother and her child had a terrifying escape after a huge chunk of masonry crashed down in West Hampstead on Monday morning. At around 9.35am, emergency services rushed to the scene where a 12-foot pillar toppled between two Victorian buildings at a busy junction.
Passer-By Describes Narrow Miss
One stunned onlooker revealed: “A 12-foot piece of masonry fell between two sites, just inches away from a mother pushing her baby in a buggy. We couldn’t tell if she was screaming from pain or shock. It was a total freak accident that could have been a disaster.”
He added, “These buildings are around 120 years old. The pillar with a newel post on top had separated from the mortar and brick before crashing down. It could have been much worse.”
Injuries Reported but Not Life-Threatening
An Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed crews treated one adult at the scene before taking them to a minor injuries unit. A police spokesperson said the injuries “are not thought to be life-threatening.”
