A man has been described as 'seriously injured' after a shop's metal shutter came crashing down on him in Newcastle city centre.
Emergency services were called after the heavy rolled-up shutters at Pop Up Wok, on Newcastle's Saville Row, came crashing down, landing on top of him.
A cordon was soon put up around the area and the man was rushed to Newcastle's RVI. A passer-by described how a man was seen 'hanging on it' before it collapsed.
Emergency services were called and the injured man was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital.
The Chronicle understands he suffered a serious leg injury.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “Just before midday today, we received a report that a man had been injured at a premises in Saville Row, Newcastle.
“Emergency services attended and a man was found to have suffered serious injuries after a metal shutter fell on him."
Lucia Tsoi, one of the cafe's owners, said she was downstairs preparing food when the incident happened.
And she has been forced to close her business today while she waits for the shutter to be repaired.
She said: "We were doing the preparation downstairs then suddenly there was a huge noise," she said. "Then when I ran up I saw the shutters."
"It could have been a lot worse."
A man who witnessed the incident added: "Someone was just hanging on it then it just collapsed. "
And another man added: "It just missed a couple of other people walking past."
A North East Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We received a call at 11.07am this morning to reports of a person injured on Saville Row, Newcastle. We dispatched one ambulance crew, a specialist paramedic, and an emergency care technician to the incident. We also requested the support of our colleagues at Northumbria Police and the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. One patient was taken the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) for further treatment."
And a Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesman explained that firefighters made the shutter safe to allow paramedics to treat the victim.
“We can confirm that two crews from Newcastle Central Community Fire Station attended an incident earlier today in Newcastle city centre where assistance was requested by our colleagues at North East Ambulance Service," he said
“Our fire control team received the call for assistance at 11.53am with reports that a male was trapped under a roller shutter at the frontage of a city premises on Saville Row.
"Firefighters were on the scene within six-minutes and were able to make the shutter safe to allow the paramedics to treat the person involved. Crews completely removed the shutter and left the location at 12.41pm."
Lucia said it has come as her business was preparing for a busy period over Chinese New Year.
She added: "We can't open and the shutter will need to be replaced. It's at least £2,000. We have to have the shutter for security at night. Everybody gets crazy round here.
"It's really annoying because Chinese New Year is coming and it's important in our Hong Kong culture. This is a busy time for us."
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