The family of a maintenance engineer who was killed when working on a pop-up urinal in Soho on 27 January 2023 is concerned that they may never find out why he was crushed to death in the freak accident. The inquest into Kevin Holding’s death heard that it took two hours for a crane to arrive to lift the urinal off him. Mr Holding, who was 60, is survived by his partner, parents and four children and three grandchildren.
His daughter, Karlie Holding, has described the lack of answers about the circumstances leading to her father’s death as “disrespectful” and “disgusting”. The Metropolitan Police, which is still investigating, apologised to the family. Det Ch Insp Dean Purvis said, “We are sorry for the impact this is having on everyone in Mr Holding’s family.”
Pop-up loos were introduced in central London in 2002. During the day, they are stored below the pavement and at night they rise hydraulically to discourage street urination. The work that was being carried out when the accident occurred was on behalf of Westminster City Council, which has expressed its “deepest sympathies” for Mr Holding’s family and friends.
Ms Holding, who is from Sevenoaks in Kent also expressed the family’s concern about the ongoing investigation, “Our lives have been on hold – we haven’t done anything. We’re just coasting. It’s horrible,” she said. Last year, the Metropolitan Police admitted that they had “not provided the family with the support they would expect”. They have since appointed a family liaison officer.
A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive confirmed that they are assisting the Metropolitan Police investigation and explained that “we are awaiting some final advice before we decide on the next steps
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