A 23-year-old man died after falling from the fifth floor of a London apartment block when a railing 'gave way', his family has said. Joshua Robbins was checking for a pizza delivery rider when the incident occurred at Holland and Thuston Dwellings in Holborn on the evening of Thursday, January 29.
Mr Robbins, originally from Claudy, County Derry in Northern Ireland, had lived in London for a decade and was residing with his father, Will Robbins. In a joint statement, his parents Fiona Garrett and Will Robbins said: 'Josh fell from a height of five floors and died on impact. Josh's father Will witnessed the immediate aftermath of his son's fall, something no parent should ever have to see. He is deeply traumatised by what he witnessed.'
The family emphasised that the railing gave way and that Mr Robbins did not behave recklessly. They described him as a 'happy, go-lucky young man who loved life', with a smile that lit up every room. The Metropolitan Police and Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association are investigating the incident.
Pictures from the scene appear to show the fifth floor balcony missing a guard rail, with wooden boarding now erected to prevent further tragedies. Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association's chief executive, Pippa Fleetwood-Read, expressed condolences and confirmed full cooperation with the police investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD7119/29Jan, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
