A serious incident occurred in St Ives, Cornwall, when an external stairway at a block of flats collapsed, resulting in multiple injuries. Emergency services were alerted to the scene on Carthew Terrace at approximately 7pm on Sunday evening.

Upon arrival, emergency crews discovered that several individuals had sustained severe injuries due to the structural failure. One person was airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth for urgent medical attention.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the incident, stating, "At about 7pm this evening, fire and ambulance attended a property on Carthew Terrace to report of an external stairway collapse. There have been significant injuries, one person has been airlifted to Derriford Hospital."

The Health and Safety Executive has initiated a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, with police officers assisting at the scene. The police spokesperson added, "At this time, police are attending to support the investigation on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, and there are scene closures in place at Carthew Terrace. There is no wider risk to the public."

This incident echoes a previous staircase collapse in 2021, where seven wedding guests were hospitalised after a wooden staircase failed at a Holiday Inn in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. In that case, the staircase was found to have been constructed from inappropriate materials and lacked proper maintenance.