Window falls on woman's head

She was with a toddler who also narrowly escaped being hit.

Paramedics said both woman and child could have been killed if the piece of glass had landed point-first after it fell more than 10ft from a first-floor flat above.

Luckily, the glass struck by its flat surface. But it could have cut like a razor-sharp knife had it hit at a slightly different angle.

Contractors were taking out the window, about 7ft by 3ft, and it broke as they tapped it out - sending shards crashing to the floor below.

Safety barriers stopped much of the glass falling directly on to the woman but one piece slipped through. The woman, believed to be in her 40s, was taken to Worthing Hospital suffering from head injuries, concussion and shock.

Her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The accident happened as the pair walked past the launderette in Manor Parade, Salvington Road, Worthing, about 9.10am yesterday.

Contractors Brightview said the glass had been caught by the wind and swept past the safety barriers.

A member of staff from Lloyds Pharmacy called an ambulance while shop owners rushed to help.

Lloyds manager Gareth Rees said: "When I went out the lady was lying on the ground with a crowd of people around her. She had a cut on the back of her head but she was breathing and conscious. She was very confused and very cold. She could remember her first name but not her second name.

"Someone got a blanket and a coat to put over her. I think she was a childminder or grandmother, she kept asking where the child was."

Alvena Chisnall, assistant manager of St Barnabas charity shop in Manor Parade, Worthing, heard the accident and ran to the woman's aid.

She said: "I was putting furniture out at the front of the shop and I heard this huge crash which sounded like glass. I didn't know what had happened at first but when I turned round I saw this lady on the floor.

"As she walked along past the chemist, this sheet of glass had just fallen out and it looked like it hit her on the back of her head.

"I wrapped a blanket around her while we waited for the ambulance to come and she just kept saying: Is the baby ok?'

"Luckily I think the baby was fine but the accident looked terrible."

Beautician Sheena Wells said: "It was a huge picture window that fell on her. The lady had her head bandaged up but she was able to walk from the paramedic's car to the ambulance."

Alex Daniels, a Brightview director, said: "Our thoughts are with the injured lady and we wish her a speedy recovery.

"We would like to give our most profound apologies for this accident."

A Sussex Ambulance spokeswoman said: "Fortunately (the woman) was hit with the flat surface of the pane rather than the edge.

"She was not cut but was taken to Worthing Hospital to be treated for shock and possible concussion.

"It sounds like she had a very, very fortunate escape from what potentially could have been far more serious injuries in terms of cuts."

The Health and Safety Executive has not yet been informed of the accident.

A spokeswoman said: "If incidents such as this involve a member of public and the injuries are severe enough for the person to be taken from the scene to hospital, the contractor is obliged to report the incident to the contact centre in Wales."

Window falls on woman's head A woman is lucky to be alive today after a shard of broken glass fell from a large window and crashed on to her head.

She was with a toddler who also narrowly escaped being hit.

Paramedics said both woman and child could have been killed if the piece of glass had landed point-first after it fell more than 10ft from a first-floor flat above.

Luckily, the glass struck by its flat surface. But it could have cut like a razor-sharp knife had it hit at a slightly different angle.

Contractors were taking out the window, about 7ft by 3ft, and it broke as they tapped it out - sending shards crashing to the floor below.

Safety barriers stopped much of the glass falling directly on to the woman but one piece slipped through. The woman, believed to be in her 40s, was taken to Worthing Hospital suffering from head injuries, concussion and shock.

Her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The accident happened as the pair walked past the launderette in Manor Parade, Salvington Road, Worthing, about 9.10am yesterday.

Contractors Brightview said the glass had been caught by the wind and swept past the safety barriers.

A member of staff from Lloyds Pharmacy called an ambulance while shop owners rushed to help.

Lloyds manager Gareth Rees said: "When I went out the lady was lying on the ground with a crowd of people around her. She had a cut on the back of her head but she was breathing and conscious. She was very confused and very cold. She could remember her first name but not her second name.

"Someone got a blanket and a coat to put over her. I think she was a childminder or grandmother, she kept asking where the child was."

Alvena Chisnall, assistant manager of St Barnabas charity shop in Manor Parade, Worthing, heard the accident and ran to the woman's aid.

She said: "I was putting furniture out at the front of the shop and I heard this huge crash which sounded like glass. I didn't know what had happened at first but when I turned round I saw this lady on the floor.

"As she walked along past the chemist, this sheet of glass had just fallen out and it looked like it hit her on the back of her head.

"I wrapped a blanket around her while we waited for the ambulance to come and she just kept saying: Is the baby ok?'

"Luckily I think the baby was fine but the accident looked terrible."

Beautician Sheena Wells said: "It was a huge picture window that fell on her. The lady had her head bandaged up but she was able to walk from the paramedic's car to the ambulance."

Alex Daniels, a Brightview director, said: "Our thoughts are with the injured lady and we wish her a speedy recovery.

"We would like to give our most profound apologies for this accident."

A Sussex Ambulance spokeswoman said: "Fortunately (the woman) was hit with the flat surface of the pane rather than the edge.

"She was not cut but was taken to Worthing Hospital to be treated for shock and possible concussion.

"It sounds like she had a very, very fortunate escape from what potentially could have been far more serious injuries in terms of cuts."

The Health and Safety Executive has not yet been informed of the accident.

A spokeswoman said: "If incidents such as this involve a member of public and the injuries are severe enough for the person to be taken from the scene to hospital, the contractor is obliged to report the incident to the contact centre in Wales."

Window falls on woman's head A woman is lucky to be alive today after a shard of broken glass fell from a large window and crashed on to her head.

She was with a toddler who also narrowly escaped being hit.

Paramedics said both woman and child could have been killed if the piece of glass had landed point-first after it fell more than 10ft from a first-floor flat above.

Luckily, the glass struck by its flat surface. But it could have cut like a razor-sharp knife had it hit at a slightly different angle.

Contractors were taking out the window, about 7ft by 3ft, and it broke as they tapped it out - sending shards crashing to the floor below.

Safety barriers stopped much of the glass falling directly on to the woman but one piece slipped through. The woman, believed to be in her 40s, was taken to Worthing Hospital suffering from head injuries, concussion and shock.

Her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The accident happened as the pair walked past the launderette in Manor Parade, Salvington Road, Worthing, about 9.10am yesterday.

Contractors Brightview said the glass had been caught by the wind and swept past the safety barriers.

A member of staff from Lloyds Pharmacy called an ambulance while shop owners rushed to help.

Lloyds manager Gareth Rees said: "When I went out the lady was lying on the ground with a crowd of people around her. She had a cut on the back of her head but she was breathing and conscious. She was very confused and very cold. She could remember her first name but not her second name.

"Someone got a blanket and a coat to put over her. I think she was a childminder or grandmother, she kept asking where the child was."

Alvena Chisnall, assistant manager of St Barnabas charity shop in Manor Parade, Worthing, heard the accident and ran to the woman's aid.

She said: "I was putting furniture out at the front of the shop and I heard this huge crash which sounded like glass. I didn't know what had happened at first but when I turned round I saw this lady on the floor.

"As she walked along past the chemist, this sheet of glass had just fallen out and it looked like it hit her on the back of her head.

"I wrapped a blanket around her while we waited for the ambulance to come and she just kept saying: Is the baby ok?'

"Luckily I think the baby was fine but the accident looked terrible."

Beautician Sheena Wells said: "It was a huge picture window that fell on her. The lady had her head bandaged up but she was able to walk from the paramedic's car to the ambulance."

Alex Daniels, a Brightview director, said: "Our thoughts are with the injured lady and we wish her a speedy recovery.

"We would like to give our most profound apologies for this accident."

A Sussex Ambulance spokeswoman said: "Fortunately (the woman) was hit with the flat surface of the pane rather than the edge.

"She was not cut but was taken to Worthing Hospital to be treated for shock and possible concussion.

"It sounds like she had a very, very fortunate escape from what potentially could have been far more serious injuries in terms of cuts."

The Health and Safety Executive has not yet been informed of the accident.

A spokeswoman said: "If incidents such as this involve a member of public and the injuries are severe enough for the person to be taken from the scene to hospital, the contractor is obliged to report the incident to the contact centre in Wales."

Window falls on woman's head A woman is lucky to be alive today after a shard of broken glass fell from a large window and crashed on to her head.

She was with a toddler who also narrowly escaped being hit.

Paramedics said both woman and child could have been killed if the piece of glass had landed point-first after it fell more than 10ft from a first-floor flat above.

Luckily, the glass struck by its flat surface. But it could have cut like a razor-sharp knife had it hit at a slightly different angle.

Contractors were taking out the window, about 7ft by 3ft, and it broke as they tapped it out - sending shards crashing to the floor below.

Safety barriers stopped much of the glass falling directly on to the woman but one piece slipped through. The woman, believed to be in her 40s, was taken to Worthing Hospital suffering from head injuries, concussion and shock.

Her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The accident happened as the pair walked past the launderette in Manor Parade, Salvington Road, Worthing, about 9.10am yesterday.

Contractors Brightview said the glass had been caught by the wind and swept past the safety barriers.

A member of staff from Lloyds Pharmacy called an ambulance while shop owners rushed to help.

Lloyds manager Gareth Rees said: "When I went out the lady was lying on the ground with a crowd of people around her. She had a cut on the back of her head but she was breathing and conscious. She was very confused and very cold. She could remember her first name but not her second name.

"Someone got a blanket and a coat to put over her. I think she was a childminder or grandmother, she kept asking where the child was."

Alvena Chisnall, assistant manager of St Barnabas charity shop in Manor Parade, Worthing, heard the accident and ran to the woman's aid.

She said: "I was putting furniture out at the front of the shop and I heard this huge crash which sounded like glass. I didn't know what had happened at first but when I turned round I saw this lady on the floor.

"As she walked along past the chemist, this sheet of glass had just fallen out and it looked like it hit her on the back of her head.

"I wrapped a blanket around her while we waited for the ambulance to come and she just kept saying: Is the baby ok?'

"Luckily I think the baby was fine but the accident looked terrible."

Beautician Sheena Wells said: "It was a huge picture window that fell on her. The lady had her head bandaged up but she was able to walk from the paramedic's car to the ambulance."

Alex Daniels, a Brightview director, said: "Our thoughts are with the injured lady and we wish her a speedy recovery.

"We would like to give our most profound apologies for this accident."

A Sussex Ambulance spokeswoman said: "Fortunately (the woman) was hit with the flat surface of the pane rather than the edge.

"She was not cut but was taken to Worthing Hospital to be treated for shock and possible concussion.

"It sounds like she had a very, very fortunate escape from what potentially could have been far more serious injuries in terms of cuts."

The Health and Safety Executive has not yet been informed of the accident.

A spokeswoman said: "If incidents such as this involve a member of public and the injuries are severe enough for the person to be taken from the scene to hospital, the contractor is obliged to report the incident to the contact centre in Wales."

Window falls on woman's head A woman is lucky to be alive today after a shard of broken glass fell from a large window and crashed on to her head.

She was with a toddler who also narrowly escaped being hit.

Paramedics said both woman and child could have been killed if the piece of glass had landed point-first after it fell more than 10ft from a first-floor flat above.

Luckily, the glass struck by its flat surface. But it could have cut like a razor-sharp knife had it hit at a slightly different angle.

Contractors were taking out the window, about 7ft by 3ft, and it broke as they tapped it out - sending shards crashing to the floor below.

Safety barriers stopped much of the glass falling directly on to the woman but one piece slipped through. The woman, believed to be in her 40s, was taken to Worthing Hospital suffering from head injuries, concussion and shock.

Her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The accident happened as the pair walked past the launderette in Manor Parade, Salvington Road, Worthing, about 9.10am yesterday.

Contractors Brightview said the glass had been caught by the wind and swept past the safety barriers.

A member of staff from Lloyds Pharmacy called an ambulance while shop owners rushed to help.

Lloyds manager Gareth Rees said: "When I went out the lady was lying on the ground with a crowd of people around her. She had a cut on the back of her head but she was breathing and conscious. She was very confused and very cold. She could remember her first name but not her second name.

"Someone got a blanket and a coat to put over her. I think she was a childminder or grandmother, she kept asking where the child was."

Alvena Chisnall, assistant manager of St Barnabas charity shop in Manor Parade, Worthing, heard the accident and ran to the woman's aid.

She said: "I was putting furniture out at the front of the shop and I heard this huge crash which sounded like glass. I didn't know what had happened at first but when I turned round I saw this lady on the floor.

"As she walked along past the chemist, this sheet of glass had just fallen out and it looked like it hit her on the back of her head.

"I wrapped a blanket around her while we waited for the ambulance to come and she just kept saying: Is the baby ok?'

"Luckily I think the baby was fine but the accident looked terrible."

Beautician Sheena Wells said: "It was a huge picture window that fell on her. The lady had her head bandaged up but she was able to walk from the paramedic's car to the ambulance."

Alex Daniels, a Brightview director, said: "Our thoughts are with the injured lady and we wish her a speedy recovery.

"We would like to give our most profound apologies for this accident."

A Sussex Ambulance spokeswoman said: "Fortunately (the woman) was hit with the flat surface of the pane rather than the edge.

"She was not cut but was taken to Worthing Hospital to be treated for shock and possible concussion.

"It sounds like she had a very, very fortunate escape from what potentially could have been far more serious injuries in terms of cuts."

The Health and Safety Executive has not yet been informed of the accident.

A spokeswoman said: "If incidents such as this involve a member of public and the injuries are severe enough for the person to be taken from the scene to hospital, the contractor is obliged to report the incident to the contact centre in Wales."