The family of Kevin Holding, a 60-year-old maintenance engineer, is seeking answers following his tragic death in a freak accident involving a pop-up urinal in Soho on January 27, 2023. Mr. Holding was crushed when the urinal he was working on dropped suddenly, and it took emergency services over two hours to free him.
- Kevin Holding died in a work accident.
- Family seeks answers about the incident.
- Investigation by Met Police ongoing.
- Health and Safety Executive involved in case.
- Family expresses frustration over lack of closure.
- Pop-up urinals introduced to prevent street urination.
Kevin Holding was working on a pop-up urinal, which is designed to rise hydraulically from below the pavement, when the device unexpectedly dropped on him. The incident occurred at the junction of Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road. Emergency services responded quickly, arriving at the scene around 1:05 PM GMT, but were unable to free Mr. Holding until a crane arrived over two hours later.
The cause of death was determined to be compression asphyxia, as stated in a post-mortem examination. His daughter, Karlie Holding, expressed her family’s distress over the lack of information regarding the circumstances of her father’s death. She described the situation as “disgusting” and “disrespectful,” highlighting the emotional toll it has taken on the family, particularly on Mr. Holding’s elderly parents.
Westminster City Council, for whom Mr. Holding was working at the time, has extended its condolences to the family. The Health and Safety Executive is assisting the Metropolitan Police with the ongoing investigation into the incident. Det Ch Insp Dean Purvis acknowledged the complexity of the case and the delay in receiving the interim expert report from the Health and Safety Executive, which has contributed to the family’s frustration.
The Holding family fears that their quest for answers may remain unresolved, leaving them without closure. They have expressed concern that the investigation may be stagnant, with Ms. Holding stating that their lives have been on hold since her father’s death.
The tragic death of Kevin Holding has left his family in a state of uncertainty and grief. As the investigation continues, they hope for clarity and accountability regarding the incident that claimed his life.
