Terrified outdoor diners at a high-end eatery were left terrified after a huge boulder suddenly toppled from above and crashed to the ground inches from where they were sitting.
Customers at Ottomenzo Cafe, in plush Kensington in west London, feared for their lives as a huge block of masonry fell from the Grade II listed building after a huge gust of wind.
The heavy block crashed to the ground just millimeters from a young woman’s head – bashing into the leg of her chair – with a bang that onlookers said was like an ‘earthquake’.
The woman, who survived unharmed, stayed standing at the scene for an hour after the incident which left one nearby dog covered in dust and her fellow customers stunned.
Emma Baxter-Wright, who went to the eatery for a drink with a friend who works around the corner, was told to move from vacate their table close to the building as staff feared more masonry could fall.
The fashion writer and stylist said: ‘My God, it could have killed someone. We were on the table and they said, “Ladies, you’re just not allowed to do that. You could be dead.”
Diners at Ottomenzo Cafe, in plush Kensington in west London, feared for their lives as a huge block of masonry fell from the Grade II listed building after a huge gust of wind
The heavy block crashed to the ground just millimeters from a young woman’s head – bashing into the leg of her chair – with a bang that onlookers said was like an ‘earthquake’
Pictured: Where the huge piece of masonry had been before it crashed to the ground
A dog named Bingo was left covered in dust after the block smashed into the pavement next to him, leaving a crater in the stone slabs
Emma Baxter-Wright (right), who went to the eatery for a drink with a friend who works around the corner, was told to move from vacate their table close to the building as staff feared more masonry could fall
‘They said if we sat there we were taking our lives in our hands.’
A fire engine was rushed to the scene, arriving within ten minutes, as they quickly worked to make the area safe, with officers left stunned by the ‘substantial’ boulder.
Where the boulder fell a crater had been left in the stone slabs, as the surrounding pavement was left covered in dust.
The owner of the cafe Francesco Cicoria, 58, said that he was in shock after the masonry crashed to the ground.
He told MailOnline: ‘Luckily there were not many people around. But it was very scary.
‘I didn’t expect it – there was no sign of it. It just came from above. It was unexpected. A shock.
‘People were very relaxed – of course the person sitting there was a bit shocked. Now, you’re looking up watching out every time you walk. He said it’s very rare it happens. One in a million.
‘I was there – I was talking outside. I was sitting there 20 minutes before it. I was lucky the lady came and she wanted a table so I stood up. But if I hadn’t otherwise… It’s scary stuff.’
The establishment has been open since 1995, run by Francesco and his brother Emidio in the heart of Kensington – a short walk from the homes of stars including Sir Lewis Hamilton, David Beckham and Robbie Williams.
The owner of the cafe Francesco Cicoria, 58, said that he was in shock after the masonry crashed to the ground
The huge piece of masonry crashed into the leg of a young woman’s chair as it plummeted to the pavement
A fire engine was rushed to the scene, arriving within ten minutes, as they quickly worked to make the area safe, with officers left stunned by the ‘substantial’ boulder
The Italian eatery continued trading after the horror incident – as customers enjoyed the warm summer evening with an Aperol spritz
One lady – who had been sitting opposite the girl who narrowly escaped being hit – said that she would have certainly died had her seat been inches to the left
The Italian eatery continued trading after the horror incident – as customers enjoyed the warm summer evening with an Aperol spritz.
Coco Cottam, 22, had gone for a drink alongside her dog Bingo, 10, when the masonry fell from the sky.
She had been sitting opposite the girl who narrowly escaped being hit – and said that she would have certainly died had her seat been inches to the left.
She explained: ‘It was quite scary. My dog was covered in dust. It was a big gust of wind and a small bang.
‘There was a girl who was sitting there and it went into the leg of her chair. She was sitting right next to it.
‘If it had been a foot over she’d have been dead, for sure. You can see the hole in the pavement. It’s not ideal.
‘All’s well that ends well, but had it been a tiny bit over…
‘Everyone acted really differently. The lady who nearly got killed stood here for about an hour – without a drink. She just stood there.
Coco Cottam, 22, had gone for a drink alongside her dog Bingo, 10, (pictured) when the masonry fell from the sky
The waitresses who work at the cafe were left horrified as they reacted to the huge noise outside their work. Pictured: Goska, Gokce and Tosia
Where the boulder fell a crater had been left in the stone slabs, as the surrounding pavement was left covered in dust
‘The lady over there who was way out of danger was very upset. The dog is totally relaxed! She did not care. She came out covered in dust but she didn’t realise what it meant.’
The waitresses who work at the café were left horrified as they reacted to the huge noise outside their work.
One, called Goska, said: ‘I heard a noise, like something heavily broke. I thought an umbrella had collapsed. It was such a hard noise, such a horrible noise.
‘It was close. Imagine if that had happened to you – you are sitting having a drink and there’s like this massive bang.
‘We were just shocked at first. Somebody could be dead.’
Tosia, who came to the UK from Poland to visit her aunt, who works at the cafe, said she was scared to sit outside after the boulder fell.
She said: ‘It was like an earthquake. I was like – every day in London, things like this happen?’
And Gokce, who was sat with the pair, quipped that they were ‘celebrating life’ as they drank in the evening sun.
Tosia’s aunt was standing right next to the woman when the boulder fell.
She added: ‘I was just serving a table next to it. I’m still in shock.
‘I’m not even joking. I’m still in shock. Especially as it’s my niece, it’s the first day she’s come to London.
‘It just shows you that every day you are millimeters from death.
‘The people who were involved, they have gone now but they were fine.’
RBKC council have been contacted for comment.