A man has died after an awning collapsed at a shop front on the Gold Coast.
A GOLD Coast man "in the wrong place at the wrong time" died and five others were injured when an awning collapsed on a busy Gold Coast shopping street.
Burleigh Head's James St, normally a haven for boutique shoppers and laid-back cafes, was thronged with police; fire and ambulance vehicles blocking almost the entire strip as rescue personnel and members of the public tried desperately to save the 54-year-old man and help the injured.
Witnesses reported a "massive bang" and then a cloud of dust as the awning outside a series of shops suddenly came crashing to the ground about 11.40am yesterday, pinning the man to a wall as he walked past.
A crowd of more than 30 people tried to lift the awning off the man, but their efforts were in vain and despite the frantic efforts of an off-duty nurse and volunteer lifesavers, he died at the scene.
See more pictures from the scene
His devastated wife arrived a short time later to be consoled by police and paramedics.
FREAK ACCIDENT: Passers-by try desperately to lift the collapsed awning off injured shoppers in James St, Burleigh Heads yesterday. Pic: Channel 9
Three women in their 40s and 50s also injured in the collapse were transported to Gold Coast Hospital, while two young boys were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Hundreds of people were on James St at the time, many told of walking past the stores just seconds before the collapse.
Senior Sergeant Bruce Pearce from Gold Coast Police said it was a freak accident.
"This gentleman really was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. "At this stage we don't know why the awning has collapsed."
Sen-Sgt Pearce praised the efforts of the public and said the incident could have been a lot worse.
A large awning on James Street, Burleigh Heads collapsed injuring pedestrians. Picture: Kit De Guymer
"The reaction by the public was excellent," he said. "A lot of people did help.
"It definitely could have been a lot worse.
"There could have been a lot more people killed as a result of the incident."
Yesterday, police began working with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland officers to work out how the awning collapsed.
"At this stage we don't know why the awning has collapsed," Sen-Sgt Pearce said.
A large awning on James Street, Burleigh Heads collapsed injuring pedestrians. Picture: Kit De Guymer
"There was some minor renovation to (the building) some years ago but not recently.
"We'll certainly be looking at CCTV along these shops.
"This building is separate from other awnings on the building, so hopefully it's an isolated incident."
He said the building's owners had held the property for about four years and previous owners had it for about 30 years before that.
Late yesterday, the building's owners said the incident was in the hands of investigators and they could not comment.
An awning collapsed on shop fronts on James Street, Burleigh killing one man and injuring three other people. Picture: Adam Head
Investigations will continue today, with Health and Safety officers expected to return to the site.
Jeremy Pierce, Stephanie Bedo and Dwayne Grant
A large awning on James Street, Burleigh Heads collapsed injuring pedestrians. Picture: Kit De Guymer
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