A father of four is taking legal action against the iconic Hamleys toy store after a terrifying incident where a large sheet of perspex fell two storeys and struck him, an event he describes as a 'Christmas miracle' that did not result in a fatality.
'I thought it was game over'
Jonathan Joseph, 43, from London, was Christmas shopping with his family in the flagship Regent Street store in November 2024 when the accident occurred. The self-employed window fitter was on an escalator with his children when screams from above alerted him to danger.
"I heard shouting, screaming and a massive commotion coming from above," Jonathan recalled. "I looked up and it was terrifying to see what looked like a huge shard of glass coming towards us. I instantly knew it could be game over."
With split seconds to react, Jonathan instinctively pushed his daughter to safety and positioned himself in front of a pram behind him to shield its occupant. A rogue 4ft by 2ft sheet of clear, hardened perspex, two inches thick, which had detached from an escalator two floors above, then struck his leg.
Aftermath of a 'nightmare before Christmas'
The impact caused immediate and "incredible" pain to his right leg, leaving him unable to stand properly. First aid staff at the store, founded in 1760, assisted him with ice packs. He later attended a walk-in centre, was prescribed strong pain medication, and was signed off work.
The injury had significant repercussions for Jonathan's life and his family's Christmas. An avid footballer, he was unable to play for months and lost his team captaincy. He also struggled to care for an elderly relative he was a registered carer for at the time.
Perhaps most painfully, the incident ruined the family's Christmas day out. "I felt really guilty; I could not get my kids any of their Christmas presents they wanted," he said. "This made me feel like I ruined Christmas and let my kids down."
Legal action and store safety concerns
Jonathan has now instructed accident specialists Express Solicitors to pursue a claim against Hamleys. He emphasised the profound impact on his children, who have become wary of stores and escalators.
"A children’s toy store should be the safest place in the world. But it wasn't," Jonathan stated. "This could so easily have been a death. If that hit a child or even me on the head, it would have been game over. It’s just luck it hit my leg. It took two staff members to lift the piece that hit me."
Isabella Greenslade, an injury specialist at Express Solicitors, said: "This was supposed to be a magical family day out, but it quickly turned into a nightmare before Christmas. It is just sheer luck that Jonathan and his family weren’t more seriously injured. Big brands need to maintain their stores to make sure they are safe."
In response to the incident, 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 famous retailer, which has 176 franchise branches worldwide and 11 UK stores, has not provided any additional comment.
