Supporters bar collapses leaving 13 casualties and others trapped

There was worrying scenes on Saturday after a supporters bar collapses leaving 13 casualties, some serious, and others unfortunately trapped.

Seven people were rescued after a mezzanine floor collapsed at an east London bar, ‘Two More Years’, in Roach Road, Hackney Wick, at 4:44pm.

London Ambulance Service (LAS) declared a major incident after emergency services were called to reports that part of a building had collapsed.

Popular with West Ham supporters before and after the game, the official supporters club later moved to the Last Drop/Podium var closer to the London Stadium, some however still go to this venue.

Thirteen people were injured after the upstairs floor of the busy bar collapsed with punters and fans trapped under the rubble.

Out of the 13 casualties, three have potentially serious injuries, and 10 more suffered minor injuries.

Four people have been taken to hospitals and major trauma centres – while eight people were rescued from the bar by London Fire Brigade.

A male, who was inside at the time, told media: “There was just this sort of cracking 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.”

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

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service confirmed 13 people were treated at the scene. Ten were said to have “more minor” injuries.

Non league players and spectators are said to have been among those in the bar but have since been released from hospital.

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

The three Clapton CFC folk taken to hospital after yesterday’s Hackney Wick bar collapse were all released last night.

Speedy recovery to all, including our allies at @StonewallFC and others in the bar at the time. https://t.co/FI0Kk9l0Ov

— Clapton Community FC (@ClaptonCFC) February 13, 2022

Clapton Community FC wrote on Twitter: “Some of the spectators and players from our game at Stonewall FC were in this bar when the mezzanine collapsed. We believe one person has been taken to hospital but miraculously no serious injuries as far as we know.”

Speaking after crews were stood down this evening, Brian Jordan, London Ambulance Service Strategic Commander, said: “We were called at 4.44pm today (12 February) to Roach Road, Hackney Wick, to reports that part of a building had collapsed.

“We declared a major incident and dispatched a number of resources to the scene. This included incident response officers, advanced paramedics, tactical advisors, 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 hospitals and major trauma centres.

“Crews have now been stood down and I thank them, the teams working in our control rooms and colleagues from our partner agencies for their swift and professional response.”

While still at the scene earlier today, LFB station Commander Sacha Clement, at the scene, said firefighters carried out a systematic search of the building and rescued eight people inside.

They continued: “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.”

A spokesman for Met Police added: “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 16:47hrs on Saturday, 12 February, to reports of a partial building collapse at a pub on Roach Road.

“Emergency services are in attendance.”

London Ambulance Service tweeted: “We were called at 4:44pm 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.”