12 May 2009
Investigation continues into Tower Bridge lift accident
Experts from the Health and Safety Executive are holding further
on-site inspections at Tower Bridge this afternoon to help discover
the cause of yesterday’s Tower Bridge lift accident.
Sixteen people were travelling in a 40-person lift in the
north tower of Tower Bridge when it fell approximately 10ft.
Six people suffered injuries, including a broken ankle and
broken leg and were taken to hospital; the remaining ten were able
to walk away. Fifteen of those involved were visitors to the
popular London landmark.
The Exhibition remains closed until further notice. Further
information will, as it becomes available, be posted on the Tower
Bridge Exhibition website
www.towerbridge.co.uk
and
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
- the website of the City of London which owns and maintains Tower
Bridge, along with four other City bridges in London.
Philip Everett, Director of Environmental Services at the City
of London Corporation, said: “We are committed to discovering the
exact cause of this accident and to ensuring that it never happens
again. Our teams on site are co-operating fully with the Health and
Safety Executive and they will announce the findings of their
investigation as soon as possible.
“Millions of people have visited Tower Bridge - which is one of
London’s most loved landmarks - and it was a shock to hear of this
accident and the injuries that passengers suffered. We wish them a
speedy recovery. “
Ends
For further information
Andrew Buckingham, Press Officer, City of London Corporation,
020 7332 1452 or mob: 07795 333 060; email
andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Notes for editors
See Tower Bridge website on
www.towerbridge.co.uk
The City of London Corporation, which provides local government
services for the ‘Square Mile’, the financial and commercial heart
of Britain, works nationally and internationally to maintain and
enhance the City as a world-leading international financial and
business centre. Its other special responsibilities and
services to London and the wider UK include the Barbican Centre,
Tower Bridge, the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000
acres of open space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest,
three wholesale food markets, two inner-London City Academies, the
City Bridge Trust and acting as London’s Port Health Authority. The
Lord Mayor of the City of London (currently Ian Luder) works
extensively at home and abroad to promote the City.