The scaffold gangway to the London tourist attraction HMS Belfast has collapsed into the River Thames today injuring two and leaving 170 visitors stranded on the ship.

The gangway collapsed at around 12.47pm today injuring two contractors that was working on the gangway at the time of the collapse.

170 people including 30 school children had to be rescued from HMS Belfast with lifeboats deployed from Tower Lifeboat Station.

Scaffolding had been erected and work had apparently been carried out on the walkway leading to the ship for the past seven weeks.

HMS Belfast director Phil Reed said he was “flabbergasted” at the event. He said:

“As far as we know, the brow, where it joins the ship, sheared off and fell into the water. “The two contractors on the brow got the warning as things began to rattle and they ran off and sustained only minor injuries.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have been informed and will investigate what caused this collapse.

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