A man has died after being crushed by a pop-up urinal in London’s busy West End.
The tragedy occurred shortly after 1 p.m. local time Friday outside the Palace Theatre, currently home to the popular production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
The victim was thought to be performing below-ground maintenance on the hydraulic public urinal when he was crushed.
The urinals are usually concealed below the street level during the day before they emerge from beneath the pavement for use in the evenings.
The devices “were brought into use by Westminster City Council about 20 years ago in an attempt to discourage street urination,” according to the BBC.
Emergency crews quickly responded to reports of injury, with an air ambulance seen dramatically landing in London’s Trafalgar Square. However, medics were unable to save the man, who died at the scene.
His name and age have not yet been released to the public.
London’s Metropolitan Police Service released a statement that read in part: “His next of kin have been informed. Cordons remain in place at the location.”
Following the tragedy, the Palace Theatre announced they would keep the public updated on a possible cancellation of Friday evening’s performance of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” However, no cancellation was confirmed.