Man crushed to death by telescopic urinal outside Harry Potter theatre in London's West End

A man has died after being crushed by a hydraulic urinal in London’s West End on Friday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.

Emergency services were called to to Cambridge Circus near Shaftesbury Avenue shortly after 1pm on Friday.

London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance joined police at the scene near the Harry Potter theatre.

The man was freed earlier on Friday but was pronounced dead soon after.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We’re sorry to have to update that, despite the efforts of emergency services, the man who was critically injured in Cambridge Circus was pronounced dead at the scene.

We're sorry to have to update that, despite the efforts of emergency services, the man who was critically injured in Cambridge Circus was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

Cordons remain in place at the location.
— MPS Westminster (@MPSWestminster) January 27, 2023

“His next of kin have been informed. Cordons remain in place at the location

“Police were called at around 1.10pm on Friday January 27, to a seriously injured man at Cambridge Circus, W1.

“The man is thought to have sustained crush injuries while working on a telescopic urinal at the location.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called today at 1.05pm to reports of an incident on Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross.

“We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, members of our hazardous area response team, members of our tactical response unit and a medic in a fast response car.

“We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.

“Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “Firefighters were called to a person trapped on Charing Cross Road in central London.

“A man was trapped below street level underneath a hydraulic urinal.

“Firefighters worked with partner agencies and used a winch to free him.

“He was left in the care of London Ambulance Service and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

“The brigade was called at 1.05pm and the incident was over by 3.41pm. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Soho, Euston and Dowgate fire stations were at the scene.”