13 people injured after mezzanine floor collapses in London bar

12 February 2022, 19:15 | Updated: 13 February 2022, 10:00

Emergency services rushed to a bar in London after "part of a building collapsed" on customers.

Paramedics treated people at the scene after a mezzanine floor collapsed at Two More Years in Roach Road, Hackney Wick, east London on Saturday evening.

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Witnesses in the venue at the time said it took a matter of seconds for the floor to come down.

London Ambulance Service (LAS) said it sent a number of resources to Roach Road and four people were taken to hospitals and major trauma centres.

Brian Jordan, LAS strategic commander, said crews were called at 4.44pm to reports that part of a building had collapsed.

He said: "We declared a major incident and dispatched a number of resources to the scene.

"This included incident response officers, advanced paramedics, tactical advisers, clinical team managers, units from our hazardous area response team and several ambulances and fast response unit car crews.

"We also dispatched teams from London's Air Ambulance.

"We worked closely with emergency services partners and treated 13 people.

"Three patients had potentially serious injuries and 10 had more minor injuries.

"We took four people to hospitals and major trauma centres."

Station Commander Sacha Clement, who was at the scene, said: "Firefighters have carried out a systematic search of the building and rescued eight people from inside.

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"They were trapped on the remaining part of the mezzanine floor and crews used a ladder to bridge between the floor and the internal staircase to get them safely out of the building.

"We are working with our emergency services partners, and a number of people have been treated at the scene and taken to hospital."

Harriet McMahon, who was at the bar at the time, posted online: "A pretty traumatic Saturday pint.

"We were sat right underneath the mezzanine at Two More Years, Hackney Wick as it came down.

"It was terrifying, can't quite believe we aren't dead."

Three fire engines from Homerton, Bethnal Green and Leyton fire stations and two rescue units from East Ham and Edmonton stations are at the scene.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called by the LAS at 4.47pm to reports of a partial building collapse at a pub.

A man who was in the venue at the time told the explained: "There was just this sort of cracking sort of noise and dust started coming down.

"Me and my friend just ran to the side and the whole thing just came down in a matter of seconds."

The man said it was lucky that there were not more people sitting directly under the mezzanine floor that came down.

He saw one person being brought out on a stretcher and put into an ambulance, but he said most of the injured appeared to have cuts and bruises rather than anything serious.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "My thoughts are with those affected by the incident in Hackney Wick this evening.

"I wish all those injured a speedy recovery."

Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, tweeted: "Very concerned about the collapse of part of a building at Roach Road #fishisland.

"My thoughts are with all those affected and their loved ones.

"Grateful to @Ldn_Ambulance and @TowerHamletsNow emergency response services for their support at this time."

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An LAS spokesperson said: "We were called at 4.44pm today to Roach Road, Hackney Wick, to reports that part of a building had collapsed.

"We have sent a number of resources to the scene.

"Crews are treating patients at the scene and are working closely with emergency services colleagues. More information to follow."

A police cordon has since been lifted.

In a statement on their Instagram, a spokesperson for the pub said: "At around 5pm today, the mezzanine in our venue collapsed.

"Thankfully no one has sustained any critical injuries.

"This does mean the venue will remain closed for now and all dinner reservations and party bookings are cancelled. Our thoughts are with everyone that has been affected."