08.02.2025

London boom trouble

Spotted on Shaftsbury Avenue among the theatres of central London three men in a boom lift holding onto what looks like a sign from the theatre located next door to the restaurant – or is it a table from an upper floor?

With traffic all around something seems to have gone wrong, with the basket having tilted and from the photos we have the machine stuck in this position. Possibly an overload lockout, it could be that having to hold on to that load means no one can reach the controls.
The machine looks like a Manitou 280 J, which in this position has a 350kg platform capacity – three men and their gear could almost make up that weight, let along that sign which from their struggles seems heavy. Meanwhile the traffic continues unabated while a spotter attempts to talk them down.

Sadly, we do not have all of the details but certainly one for our Death Wish series.
Have a safe weekend.