Recent roadworks may have weakened a lamppost which fell and crushed a baby boy, it has been revealed.
The 11-month-old was today fighting for his life after his pram was crushed when the 40ft lamppost collapsed and crashed onto his pram.
Now an investigation has been launched by the Health and Safety Executive into roadworks being carried out in the area.
Investigators believe the post's base could have been weakened by heavy machinery used to dig up the footpath.
Horrified mothers watched as paramedics pulled the baby from the mangled pram to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The nanny escaped unhurt, but a 62-year-old woman walking nearby was said to have been ‘knocked out instantly’ when she was struck and pinned to the floor by the fallen metal post.
Hounslow Council said work was being carried out on a scheme to provide faster bus journeys.
It included road repairs, updating pedestrian crossing facilities and improvements to pavements.
The baby, who has not been named, was in a critical but stable condition today after being taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital following the accident outside Chiswick Town Hall, West London, at 10.30am yesterday morning.
It is believed the nanny was taking the baby to a ‘music time for under fives’ class, one of many parent-and-toddler sessions held at the town hall.
Witness Nora Correa, 45, said: ‘Paramedics and police had the baby out of the pram and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the steps of the town hall.
'He was pale and had his eyes closed. At first he wasn’t breathing but after a few minutes he began to move a little.
‘The force of the crush had snapped the front two wheels of the pram off.’
Mrs Correa said the nanny appeared to be in shock and was not allowed to touch the child because of the injuries.
She said: ‘A few minutes later the mother arrived and got straight into the back of the ambulance.
‘I can’t understand how this could happen. How could a lamppost just collapse? It beggars belief.
'They have been doing roadworks on this stretch for a long time and it has been a complete mess.’
Another passer-by, a mother who asked not to be named, said: 'It was horrific.
'Children are coming in and out of the town hall all the time, there are music classes and ballet classes held there.'
The council said it had been waiting for Virgin Media contractors to move cabling, but none was on site at the time.
The spokesman added: ‘Council engineers are on site and liaising with the police. This is an awful tragedy and our heartfelt sympathies go out to the injured and all their families.’
The woman victim, who has also not been named but is said not to be related to the baby boy, was recovering from back injuries at Charing Cross Hospital.
Thomas Daniell, 28, a travel consultant who works in an agency near the scene, said she could have been lying unconscious for some time following the impact.
‘I’m really shocked and it was obviously quite upsetting for a lot of people who saw what happened. It’s a busy pedestrian area. There were people standing around with tears in their eyes.
‘The first I knew of it was seeing two policemen sprinting towards the town hall,’ Mr Daniell said. ‘Within minutes there were ambulances and police at the scene and a helicopter overhead.
'Police cordoned off the area, but the injured woman was in full view of the public. I didn’t see the baby, but the pram was smashed in half by the sheer force of the impact.’
Pedestrian Lisa Lambakis added: 'The woman was on the ground but conscious, and the baby was unconscious but breathing.
'Nothing hit the pole causing it to fall, so I have no idea what happened. Very scary considering the number of people who use that crossing every day.'
The Metropolitan Police said it had attended the scene in Sutton Court Road at the junction with Heathfield Terrace and confirmed the HSE had been informed.
A paramedic is pictured tending to the baby injured by the falling lamppost
A police officer removes the pushchair from the scene
Workmen at the scene where the lamppost collapsed in Chiswick. The council had been carrying out roadworks in the area
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