Woman killed in London crane collapse named as construction worker fights for life

June Harvey, 85, died after 20-metre crane fell through terraced houses in Compton Close, Bow, on Wednesday afternoon

A woman who died after a crane collapsed onto houses in east London has been named by her family as June Harvey, 85.

Police said specialist firefighters would work to recover her body on Thursday.

Her family have been told. Formal identification awaits and a post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course, officers said.

A construction worker was also injured and remains in hospital in critical condition after the 20-metre crane fell into a block of flats under development and two terraced houses in Compton Close, Bow, on Wednesday afternoon.

The Metropolitan Police said a number of other people are believed to have suffered non life-threatening injuries.

A joint investigation is underway involving officers from the Met’s central east command unit, the Health and Safety Executive and the London Fire Brigade. The local council is providing support.

Ms Harvey was described by her great-nephew, Sam Atkinson, 28, as a “very caring woman” who was “loyal to her family”.

Mr Atkinson, who lived with Ms Harvey, along with his mother Jacqueline Atkinson, 63, said the crane collapse was so loud he thought a plane had crashed.

He told the PA news agency: “We are devastated by our loss.

“The last thing you ever think is going to happen is a crane coming through your roof. It’s extremely traumatising.”

Additional reporting by Press Association