A CORONER has criticised the London Fire Brigade after a man died in a fall from a block of flats.

Mary Hassell, the senior coroner at St Pancras Coroner’s Court, said police efforts to help Dr Leonard Moaven were hamstrung by delays in bringing the right type of ladder to the emergency.

Dr Moaven, 61, ultimately died after falling from a block of flats near Caledonian Road in July 2023.

“Upon attendance, firefighters recognised that their ladders would not reach the roof of the flats and so called for an extended height ladder appliance,” Ms Hassell said. “They had to travel from further afield and Dr Moaven became more agitated during the wait.

“The police were especially concerned that the extended height ladder appliance had not been requested from the outset, given that the call was in respect of a person on the roof of a block of flats.”

In response to the report, a London Fire Commissioner said: “LFP is fully committed to incorporating the new guidance on dealing with persons in crisis in its policies.

“The brigade will revise its training to firefighters in using the new approach to dealing with such persons.”