UPDATE: News Cafe apologises for collapse at Woodmead store

UPDATE: 16 March 2016, 3:30pm – Following the collapse at News Cafe Woodmead Retail Park store, Varina Singh, Marketing Manager of the brand has released a media statement. The statement reads:

“News Cafe sincerely apologises for the unfortunate incident that took place at our Woodmead store. We are in contact with the onsite construction company, Soda Creations who is responsible for the renovations and aesthetical changes at the store. While we can confirm that a part of the ceiling collapsed at approximately 11am this morning, we are awaiting their full report to determine exactly what happened.

“The region where they were working had been cleared of all furniture and the store was not seating anyone in that specific area. At the time of the incident there were 15 patrons seated inside the restaurant but thankfully none of them were seriously hurt. Unfortunately, the construction designer was injured and has been taken to hospital for further assessment. We sympathise with him and wish him a speedy recovery. We also sincerely apologise to our patrons who were inconvenienced and traumatised by the incident.

“As safety is of paramount importance to News Cafe, the store has subsequently been closed to the public and our staff, while an independent engineering consultant will assess the entire restaurant and conduct a safety audit to ensure that everything is returned to safe, working order and safe for patronage.

Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

INITIAL REPORT: 16 March 2016, 12pm – Jeremy Mansfield took to Facebook on 16 March to explain a less-than-ordinary business meeting when he said,

“Who knew business meetings could be so dangerous. The ceiling just collapsed at News Cafe Woodmead. Luckily only my foot was cut and my back is sore from diving to the floor, but the guy next to me seems injured quite badly.”

Alex Ling, the general manager of Newscafe, said that the restaurant is undergoing renovations and that there are builders who are working around the restaurant.

She said that there were no builders in the roof at the time of the collapse and said that the only injured person was the designer of the renovations who was under the roof when it collapsed.

Ling said that no guests were injured and the area has been cordoned off.

Emer-G-Med responded to the scene and transported the seriously injured designer to a nearby trauma centre under Advanced Life Support.

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