Window of Perth tenement crashes onto doc’s car

May 9 2008

A LOCAL doctor was the latest pedestrian to endure a close shave when debris tumbled from a crumbling Perth tenement.

Dr Lenny Burnett, of the Fair City’s Taymount practice, was strolling back to his car in sun-kissed George Street on Wednesday when a skylight window came crashing down on the vehicle, sending lethal shards of glass exploding in all directions.

Yesterday, the 41-year-old GP admitted it could have had serious consequences.

He said: “It wasn’t a windy day and I’m told that’s often been the case when chunks of masonry have fallen from city centre properties in the past.

“I had been shopping at lunchtime and was returning to the car when the window came crashing down, scattering glass all over the place.

“Fortunately no one was on the pavement, otherwise I hate to think what might have happened.

“The skylight fell from three storeys up. I got a heck of a fright and the car now has a few dents and scratches. But it could have been so much worse. There was glass strewn all over the pavement.”

Dr Burnett alerted the police and they, in turn, summoned building experts from the local authority.

“The council officer took a look and said everything seemed okay. But it’s really alarming that it happened in the first place,” said Dr Burnett.

A spokesperson for PKC confirmed that an officer from the council's building standards team attended the incident on Wednesday and carried out an assessment of the situation.

She said: “This was a serious incident and we have contacted the owner of the property to ask them to take action to get the skylight checked and the glass replaced.

“We will continue to pursue this matter to ensure the appropriate action is taken.”