A father of four is pursuing legal action against the world-famous Hamleys toy shop after a large, heavy-duty plastic panel fell two storeys and struck him while he was Christmas shopping with his family.
A Terrifying Moment on the Escalator
Jonathan Joseph, a 43-year-old self-employed glazier from Edmonton, North London, was on an escalator at the iconic Regent Street branch in November 2024 when the incident occurred. He heard screams from above and looked up to see what he thought was a huge shard of glass hurtling towards his family.
Reacting instantly, Jonathan pushed his 12-year-old daughter to safety and positioned himself in front of a pushchair behind him to shield the baby inside. The object, which turned out to be a 4ft by 2ft section of two-inch thick reinforced Perspex, hit his leg with tremendous force before bouncing away.
Injuries and Lasting Impact
The impact caused significant injury to Jonathan's right leg, leaving him in incredible pain and barely able to stand. First aiders at the store treated him with ice packs. He later visited a walk-in centre, was prescribed painkillers, and was forced to take time off work.
The consequences extended beyond his physical injury. As a registered carer for an elderly relative, he was unable to fulfil his duties. He also had to stop playing football, a weekly activity since his teens, which cost him his team captaincy. Most distressingly, the ordeal meant he was unable to purchase the Christmas gifts his children had chosen during their day out.
"I felt really guilty; I could not get my kids any of their Christmas presents they wanted," Jonathan confessed. "This made me feel like I ruined Christmas and let my kids down."
Legal Proceedings and Store Response
Jonathan has now instructed accident experts at Express Solicitors to bring a claim against Hamleys. He stated that the experience was terrifying and that it was a "Christmas miracle" no one was killed or more seriously injured.
Injury specialist Isabella Greenslade from Express Solicitors commented: "This was supposed to be a magical family day out, but it quickly turned into a nightmare before Christmas. Big brands need to maintain their stores to ensure they are safe for customers to visit especially during busy holiday periods."
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for Hamleys said: "Hamleys takes the safety of customers and staff extremely seriously. An investigation has been launched and we're unable to comment further at this stage."
The retailer, established in 1760, operates 11 stores in the UK and 176 franchise branches globally. Jonathan expressed his disbelief that such a frightening event could happen in a store synonymous with family fun, emphasising that a children's toy shop should be the safest place in the world.
