The moment a large block of ice fell from the sky and landed just metres from a street cleaner in London has been caught on camera.

CCTV showed the man's narrow escape after the ice crashed to the ground at speed and smashed into pieces in North Road, Kew.

The incident on Wednesday morning is believed to have been caused by a plane flying overhead. It happened close to Kew Gardens station under a busy flight path into Heathrow.

Taxi firm boss Mos Sayed, whose security camera recorded the moment the ice hit the ground, told Sky News: "When I watched the footage back I was shocked to see it was the size of a boulder.

Image: The ice landed metres from a street cleaner. Pic: Bloomfield Executive Cars

"It was enormous. It must have been about 20kg.


"It was like the film End Of Days or asteroids falling out of the sky.

Image: A block of ice falls from the sky in Kew. Pic: Bloomfield Executive Cars

"If it had fallen on someone, it would have killed them.

"It's shocking really. I walk along that street with my children every day.

Image: The ice smashed into pieces in North Road. Pic: Bloomfield Executive Cars

"We should all be grateful no one was severely injured."

The man who was nearly hit by the ice has been named in reports as council worker Serhiy Mysehkov.

He told the Richmond and Twickenham Times: "I was sweeping on the other side of the road, then heard a loud boom.

"It all happened very quickly. I wasn't scared, but it could kill you. I feel lucky."

Image: Onlookers took photos of the smashed ice block Pic: @huldatheprophet

About 30 ice falls are reported to the UK's aviation regulator each year.

It is understood they can be caused by leaks from planes or when ice forms on planes at higher altitudes and breaks off in warmer air.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said: "Ice falls can be as a result of meteorological phenomena, however ice falls from aircraft are considered to be rare in UK airspace.

"The CAA receives reports of around 30 ice falls every year. We are unable to investigate the potential origin of an ice fall, but do record reports of this nature."