Victim of Bow crane collapse named as June Harvey, 85, as police try to rescue her body

An 85-year-old woman who died after a crane collapsed onto buildings in Bow has been identified as June Harvey.

Rescue crews on Thursday moved in to retrieve Ms Harvey's body from the ruins of a family home, which was crushed by the 65ft crane.

Four others were injured when the crane collapsed onto a block of flats under construction “like a bomb going off” in Bow at about 2.30pm yesterday. One male casualty, a construction worker, is fighting for life.

The tip of the jib split the roof of a terrace house where the woman is understood to have been in a upstairs bedroom. Possessions, furniture, clothes and loft insulation could be seen strewn across the scene.

A team of specialist firefighters today began the task of recovering her body as police, fire officers and representatives from the Health and Safety Executive launched a probe. London Fire Brigade deployed a drone to assess the damage to nearby houses.

Wreckage: a rescue worker looks into a first-floor room in the house struck by the falling crane
Jeremy Selwyn

A nephew of the Ms Harvey wrote on Facebook: “Unfortunately my aunt didn’t make it after the crane fell onto our house.

"We are extremely shocked and heartbroken. Would like to thank everyone for the messages and support. RIP June.”

Some 40 families from neighbouring homes in Compton Close were forced to spend the night in emergency accommodation.

Witness Sahana Begum rushed outside when she heard the crash, and watched as a “shivering and shaking” elderly woman was led barefoot to safety from the ruins.

She said: “There was an old woman in the window. She was panicking so badly, you could see she was shivering.”

Crane collapse in Bow - In pictures

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The crane was being used by Swan Housing Association and NU living at a development site in Watts Grove.

A spokesman said: “Swan and NU living are saddened by an incident at our Watts Grove. Our thoughts are with those affected at this difficult time. We thank the emergency services and everyone for their dedicated response. Our staff are supporting this emergency and the investigation.”

Fire spokesman Karl Smith said: “We are shoring up the building to make it safe. We are trying to repatriate the body in the most dignified way possible.” Daniel Duncan, who lives next door to the crushed house, said: “We are in a hotel and have no idea when we can go back. We’ve got nothing with us.”

Student Zu Yang, 26, saw the aftermath from his window. He said: “It was a bang like I have never heard. Like a bomb going off.”

A woman in her 80s died at the scene
Jeremy Selwyn

Student Antony Small, 22, who lives next to the site, said his “entire building shook” as the crane collapsed. “I thought it was an earthquake,” he said. “The whole building was shaking and there was this loud screeching.”

Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs said: “We need answers about how this happened.”

London Ambulance Service confirmed one woman died, while two people were taken to hospital with head injuries. Two more were treated at the scene.

A Met spokesman said: "The investigation is in its very early stages."

A joint investigation is underway involving officers from the Met’s Central East Command Unit and Specialist Crime, the Health and Safety Executive, and the London Fire Brigade. The Local Authority are aware and providing support.

A scene is expected to remain in place for the next few days.

The investigation is in its very early stages. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

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