An inquest date has not yet been fixed.

It was more by luck than judgement that other people were not hurt

Peter Foster Eyewitness

One eyewitness said it sounded like a bomb had gone off when the structure crashed to the ground.

The workers had been building part of a skyscraper for the HSBC bank.

The crane's cab landed in a building crater, while the crane's arm landed in North Colonnade, one of the main roads into the area.

As the metal arm crashed down, witnesses said it dragged heavy girders and wires with it, uprooting trees and flowers.

Scramble to safety

A bus shelter was also smashed as it was hit by falling debris and people in the area fled for cover.

Peter Foster, a journalist with The Daily Telegraph newspaper, which is based at Canary Wharf, said "it was more by luck than judgement that other people were not hurt by this".

An air ambulance arrived on the scene, as did two fire engines and two fire rescue units with cutting equipment.