Campden House on the Harben Road estate

A BEAUTIFUL summer’s evening turned into an unimaginable nightmare on Sunday when a 58-year-old man fell from the second-floor balcony of his Swiss Cottage flat.

Witnesses to the tragic incident at Campden House on Harben Road estate say a piece of glass fencing on his balcony gave way.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, who administered aid for more than 30 minutes on a communal lawn below the man’s flat, police officers have confirmed he has since died. Neighbours say the estate is in mourning.

They added that the man, who has not yet been named, moved in last year with his wife and son. Many described him as a friendly face who had come to London from eastern Europe and would always say “good morning”.

Nik Masters has lived on the estate in a flat directly above the man’s home for more than three decades – and called an ambulance when he realised what had happened.

He said: “It was Father’s Day and my daughter had come to visit me. I was sitting on my sofa, it was hot, the doors and windows on the balcony were open. I heard a really loud noise, a thud. I ran to my balcony – I thought something must have fallen off the roof. I looked down and I saw a big pane of glass on the grass below, that had fallen down. Next to it I saw a man – it was absolutely terrible.

“I grabbed my phone and dialled 999. I said we needed an ambulance immediately.”

The tragedy happened next to a busy children’s playground and games court. People quickly gathered round to try and do what they could to help.

An off-duty police officer who lives on the estate rushed out to help and administered CPR. Paramedics arrived quickly and took over, working to save his life as distressed neighbours watched.

The missing panel at the man’s flat

The man passed away later that night in hospital. Mr Masters added: “It was absolutely terrible. So many people saw it and it has deeply shocked us all. It was a lovely night, and then this happened. There was real panic. There was no noise beforehand – just a boom.”

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Council leader Richard Olszewski, housing chief Labour councillor Sagal Abdi Wali, and Swiss Cottage councillors visited Campden House on Monday to go door to door and reassure shocked tenants.

Cllr Olszewski said: “My thoughts are with the family of the person who has very sadly died. I visited the estate with Cllr Abdi Wali and ward members, and the sense of sadness in the area is profound. The community is pulling together and we will be there to support the family at this very sad time. I would reiterate the message that anyone affected by what has happened can and should get in touch and we will do what we can to support you.”

Police officers also went door to door on Tuesday taking statements and asked for any witnesses to come forward.

Neighbours say the man had recently travelled abroad with his wife and child to visit family. According to tenants, he had returned with his son while his wife remained away when the incident occurred.

Mr Masters added: “They moved here about maybe 18 months ago. He was from somewhere in eastern Europe. They had a young boy. We would always say hello, give each other a nod, say good morning. “Most of the people living here know each other, at the very least to say good morning to.”

Richard Davis has lived on the estate for seven years. He recalled brief conversations with the man who died, and added he had recently bought a new bicycle.

“He used it to exercise,” said Mr Davis. “He was into his fitness.”

Bunches of flowers left on the communal green

A Town Hall spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened that this has happened and our thoughts are with the family of the person who has tragically died. We are reaching out to the family to offer any support we can. We also understand that this has been very upsetting for residents and our officers have been at the estate to provide support where it is needed.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesman added: “Police were called at 20:24 hrs on Sunday June 15 to reports a man had fallen from a height in Harben Road. Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and took a 58-year-old man to hospital. “Despite the best efforts of medical staff he sadly died later that evening. His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. “His death is being treated as unexpected. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Tenants urge council to check safety at all homes

WORRIED council tenants say every council estate balcony in the borough should be checked for repairs after Sunday’s tragedy, writes Dan Carrier. Around 250 households on the Harben Road estate, which was built in the mid-50s, had emergency locks fitted to balcony doors on Monday and yesterday (Wednesday).

Emergency scaffolding was due to be put up across the estate – which rises to seven storeys high – while surveyors look at each balcony, but there are calls for there to be a wider check.

Gerry O’Connell, tenants association chairman for Beaumont Walk estate in Adelaide Road, told the New Journal said there had been years of inaction over repairs and maintenance.

“There are jobs on this estate reported eight years ago that are still not fixed.We have had to take the council to court to get even the most basic of repairs done,” he said. “I was told 13 years ago I needed a new bathroom and the place to be re-wired. Thirteen years later, I am still waiting.”

He said even apparently urgent issues were not dealt with, adding: “About 15 years ago, a wall looked after by Camden Council fell on a child and they died. The council jumped up and went round looking at all their walls. We reported walls here with dangerous cracks, as we were asked to do – yet nothing happened. They just never got back to me.”

He said tenants had grown tired of reporting the same problems over and over – and it meant homes could deteriorate until they were a danger.

He said: “We have had two Ombudsman rulings against the council recently where they have broken building regulations. It is not surprising there is a lack of maintenance stretching back years.”

The Town Hall said it could not respond to New Journal questions about when any building work was last done on the Harben Road estate’s three blocks, as they were now working with the police and the Health and Safety executive, who are investigating the circumstances of the tragedy.

Long-term Harben Road tenants say they have never had any council staff check their balconies – and one told the New Journal they had resorted to doing their own DIY safety on ageing and dangerous balcony railings.

One tenant, who did not wish to be named, said: “I have lived here for 22 years  and they have never once checked my balcony. It is the council’s duty to make sure we are safe. We are all so worried now.”

Nik Masters and Richard Davis

Another said Campden House felt “like the estate Camden forgot”, adding: “They did some work on the communal boilers years back, and they still don’t work properly. “They never do any general maintenance, just saying they’ll only respond to emergency repairs. One of my neighbours’ ceilings has fallen in and two years later it still has not been fixed.”

A letter from the head of building safety was delivered to each flat. In it, the council said: “This is a very distressing incident and we understand that you will have concerns about this. While we conduct this investigation it is essential to take immediate action regarding balconies with a glazed panel.”

Nik Masters, who lives directly above the flat where the incident occurred, said he had resorted to his own DIY to repair his balcony over the years. He said: “There are wooden planks that run along the top of the balcony fencing and don’t hold the panels in place as they should. I’ve tried to fix mine – I’ve covered them with a waterproof covering to stop the wood splitting any further.

“They haven’t done any repairs here and never on the balcony. It makes me feel extremely unsafe. “You can’t help but be concerned for the many families with young children. It is the landlord’s job to make sure they are safe.”

A council spokesperson said: “We have been visiting flats to prevent access to balconies that have a similar design until we have completed a full and thorough safety check. The police are aware and we are fully cooperating with them. Any resident with any concerns whatsoever is encouraged to get in touch with our housing officers who are available.”