A man is wheeled out of a theatre used as a makeshift treatment center for the nearby Apollo Theatre after its ceiling collapsed (Picture: AP)

Eyewitnesses in the packed audience of a London theatre have spoken of their anger at how such a ‘horrific’ and ‘terrifying’ roof collapse could happen at one of the busiest times of the year in the West End.

At least 76 people have been injured, seven seriously, with 58 taken to hospital as parts of the Apollo Theatre ‘began to crumble down’ around them during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time yesterday evening.

Theatre-goer Chris Edwards, whose son and daughter-in law remain in hospital, spoke of his grief.

‘I was in seat F3 with my family all around me when part of the roof fell in right on top of us,’ he told the BBC.




‘I first heard cracking, and then looked up to see a big part of the roof coming down. It was horrific.

‘I am really angry about this too. It was so lucky that someone wasn’t killed.’

Mr Edwards described the moment that ‘larger pieces’ hit his son, causing significant injuries, and put his pregnant daughter-in-law at risk of personal injury or worse.

‘He’s still in hospital with a broken collar bone and suspected damage to his spine,’ Mr Edwards continued.

‘I tried to cover my daughter-in-law, who is pregnant, to protect her but some of the debris fell on her back. Thankfully she and the baby are safe.

‘I have cuts and bruises myself, but we believe we have been very lucky.’

A woman stands bandaged and wearing a blanket given by emergency services following an incident at the Apollo Theatre (Picture: AP)

Martin Bostock, who was also in the audience of 720 with his family, told Sky News: ‘I was in the lower stalls with my family in the early stages of the show.

‘It was just terrifying and awful. I think the front part of the balcony fell down.

‘It was complete chaos in the theatre. We got out with cuts and bruises. I think most people did.’

Nimax Theatres, which owns the Apollo, described the collapse as a ‘shocking and upsetting incident’ while other eyewitnesses took to Twitter.

It's been horrifying sitting here watching what has been happening at the apollo this evening. I'm hugely relieved that no-one has died… — mark haddon (@mark_haddon) December 19, 2013

Emergency services outside #Apollo at Shaftesbury Ave, where a theatre balcony has collapsed. pic.twitter.com/dhkBqCFP00 — Jamie Shoesmith (@jamesfarrier) December 19, 2013

Ornate plaster and marsonary fell from the Grade II listed theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue 40 minutes into the show at around 8.15pm, engulfing the audience in a thick cloud of dust and debris.

Eight fire engines, 50 fire-fighters and 25 ambulances were called to the scene and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, praised the quick response of the emergency services on Twitter.

An investigation has been launched to discover why part of the roof collapsed.

Our spokesman at the scene said he's never seen anything like the #theatre incident in #Soho & that his thoughts are with those affected. — London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) December 19, 2013

Thank you to everyone involved in the emergency operation at the Apollo theatre tonight – incredible response in very difficult conditions — Boris Johnson (@MayorofLondon) December 19, 2013

The Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue (Picture :Reuters)