19 February 2024 , 16:18
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A child was airlifted to hospital after falling from the second storey window of a coffee shop.
Emergency services were called to the branch of Caffe Nero in the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells, Kent on Friday (February 16) afternoon after reports a young child had fallen from a height.
The victim, thought to be a little girl, is understood to have plunged from an upstairs bay window on to the shop's awning, before hitting the pavement. The child, who was conscious at the scene, was treated by ambulance crews before being airlifted to hospital in London.
A witness, who did not want to be named, told KentOnline: “There’s two floors on top of Caffé Nero and we have no idea what window it was from. I just heard a lady scream with fear and then a little girl laying in the floor screaming and crying."
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's (TWBC) Environmental health team has since served a prohibition notice preventing customers or members of the public from accessing the upstairs seating area of the Caffè Nero branch. The local authority has launched a full investigation into the incident.
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A spokesperson for TWBC said: "We were very upset to hear about this incident and our thoughts are with the child and their family. We wish the child a full and speedy recovery. On Friday afternoon after we were notified about the incident, members of the Council’s Environmental Health team visited the premises and served a Health and Safety Prohibition Notice prohibiting access to the upstairs seating area by customers and/or members of the public; this remains in place. Under the Council’s health and safety enforcement responsibilities we are continuing a full and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident."
South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) confirmed it was called to reports of a child falling from a height at 2.25pm on Friday. A spokesperson said: "I can confirm that SECAmb was called to reports of a child falling from height in Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, at approximately 2.25pm on Friday (16 February). Ambulance crews attended the scene and were joined at the scene by Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey, Sussex. The child was assessed and treated before being airlifted to hospital in London for further checks."
A spokesperson for Royal Victoria Place offered their "best wishes" to the family of the child. They confirmed the lease of the premises is held by Caffè Nero and said they are unable to comment further, as a result. The spokesperson said: "The safety of our visitors, colleagues and retailers is the utmost priority. We are saddened to learn of the terrible incident at Caffe Nero on Grosvenor Road and send our best wishes for a positive outcome for the family."