Crane drops air-conditioning unit on pedestrian

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A woman was in a serious condition in hospital today after an air-conditioning unit fell on her head as she stood at a bus stop.

The unit is believed to have fallen from the Prospect House building site on to the unnamed woman, thought to be in her mid-20s, as she waited on York Road, near London's Waterloo railway station, causing her severe head injuries.

Initial reports suggest the unit may have fallen from a luffing jib crane, an HSE spokesman said.

The spokesman said the principal contractor on the building site was Durkan Pudelek, which has recently rebranded as Concentra.

Police cordoned off the street after the incident, which happened at around 9.10am.

London Ambulance Service sent an air ambulance, road ambulance and motorcycle fast response unit to the scene.

The woman was taken to King's College Hospital by road ambulance with head, arm and leg injuries, but her condition was not life-threatening, an ambulance service spokeswoman said.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the incident, and has sent inspectors to the scene.

The spokesman said an initial inspection had revealed no defects with the crane.

He said: "The problem seems to be that the load became detached while it was being lifted, rather than there being a mechanical failure.

"The inspectors will now want to find out everything about the lifting
operation: how was it planned? How it was organised? Was there some external stimulus to cause the accident?"

Concentra was contacted for comment, but did not return calls.