Falling debris looked like normal bricks - inquest

The owner of a building which partially collapsed on top of a woman has told an inquest he was "concerned" when he found out more about its construction.

Rochelle Crane was hit by a falling brick slip as she walked past the block of flats in Southend-on-Sea during Storm Eunice in February 2022.

The 49-year-old suffered brain and spinal injuries and died two months later in hospital.

Isaac Hoffman, director of Cannon Street Investments, said he was not aware the wall section which fell was actually made with brick slip until after the incident, telling the inquest "they looked like normal bricks".

Jurors at Essex Coroner's Court have already been told that a brick slip is typically made up of thin slices of brick, giving the impression of a regular brick wall.

The inquest heard how renovation work was carried out between 2016 and 2018 to convert the second and third floors of the building into residential flats, as well as adding a fourth floor on top.

Cannon Street Investments purchased the building - which is on the corner of Chichester Road and Southchurch Road - in August 2018 after the work had already been completed.

Brick slips had been used on the second and third floors, jurors were told.

The ground floor was used as a restaurant at the time of the incident on 18 February 2022.

Mr Hoffman said his firm decided to remove the other brick slips following a Health and Safety Executive report in September 2023, but the removal was delayed until last month because planning permission was needed.

The inquest previously heard how Ms Crane had been out shopping when the brickwork fell on her.

There was a red weather warning in place at the time.

The jury heard how Ms Crane had to be dragged out of the way by paramedics, who were also hit on the head by falling debris.

Her daughter Louise Crane told the inquest that the pair had been on the phone with each other moments before the incident, and that her mother had "dismissed" the danger of the high winds.

She said her mother's sudden death had impacted her "profoundly".

The inquest continues and is expected to last for three weeks.

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