Parents' trauma as son dies after railing collapse

24 minutes ago

Victoria Cook,BBC Londonand

Anna O'Neill,BBC London

News image — Joshua Robbins moved to London from Claudy in Northern Ireland to live with his father and 'seek opportunity'

Fiona Jane Garrett Joshua Robbins looks straight at the camera, whilst crossing his arms and smiling He's wearing an orange t shirt over a long black sleeved top. — Joshua Robbins moved to London from Claudy in Northern Ireland to live with his father and 'seek opportunity'

Parents of a 23-year-old man have said they were "traumatised" when their son fell from the fifth story of a block of flats in central London when balcony railings gave way.

Joshua Robbins's mother, Fiona Jane Garrett, released a statement online explaining her son had lent against the railings of the Holland and Thurston Dwellings in Holborn on the evening of 29 January, in order to see if a pizza delivery had arrived.

The railings, located on a communal hallway balcony, gave way, and Joshua fell to his death.

Islington & Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) told the BBC they were "fully cooperating with the police and their investigation".

Fiona Jane Garrett The building is shown with boarded up areas and a police investigation tent on the ground floor — Boards were quickly installed across the communal balconies following the alleged railing collapse

The housing association added it was "too early" to comment further.

Joshua's mother, Fiona Jane Garrett said that Josh's father Will saw the immediate aftermath of his son's fall.

"It's something no parent should ever have to see. He is deeply traumatised by what he witnessed.

"Our family is absolutely devastated. We have lost our son.

"We should not be planning a cremation. We should not be waiting for pathology reports. We should not be writing statements like this or trying to navigate trauma and bureaucracy at the same time.

"Yet here we are."

A woman in a black coat with short grey hair, looks up at the building from outside — Speaking outside Holland and Thurston Dwellings, neighbour Trudy Howson, said other residents were traumatised by what had happened

Garrett described her son as a "happy, go-lucky young man who loved life," and had "a smile that lit up every room".

Within the statement, the parents say they are "seeking answers" to what happened.

Floral tributes can be seen outside the gates of the flats, as well as a lit candle — Flowers for Joshua Robbins have been left outside the gates of the flats in Holborn

Chief executive at ISHA, Pippa Fleetwood-Read said the death was "deeply saddening", and sent "sincere condolences" to his family and friends.

ITV London was shown a letter sent to residents following the fatal fall, in which residents are asked not to "touch or place any weight on the railings," until investigations have been completed.

It also advised residents the evening after the incident that scaffolding would be going up around the building "as a precaution".

Google The top floor balcony with the original blue railing, and attached orange planter can be seen on Google street view — The top floor balcony with the original railing and attached orange planter can be seen on Google street view before the incident

The Metropolitan Police told the BBC it was called to Newton Street, on Thursday 29 January at about 20:20 GMT after reports of someone falling from height.

The force said police and paramedics treated Joshua Robbins, but "sadly, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead".

An investigation is now underway, and officers appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.

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