A man has died after being hit by what appeared to be a window that had fallen from the top floor of a luxury block of flats.
Officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at about 10.40am on Tuesday to reports of a man injured outside The Corniche apartment building on Albert Embankment.
A photo taken from the building on the south bank of the River Thames shows a large window unit, complete with a metal frame containing glass, on top of a man lying on the pavement.
Another image shows a window missing from the top floor of The Corniche building.
Scrap metal dealer Paddy Riley said he was driving past shortly after the incident when he saw the victim lying on his back.
He added the man was under a pane of glass that had taken "half his head away".
Mr Riley added: "There was lots of blood everywhere and other stuff – it was very, very distressing.
"There was a lot of labourers standing looking and pointing up at the window and down at him but no one was going near him."
He described the victim as a middle-aged white man, adding: "His family have got to hear about it now. That's the worst thing – they probably don't even know what's happened."
A Met Police spokesman said: "The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Inquiries are under way to trace his next of kin.
"At this early stage in the investigation, it is believed he was hit by something falling from a building."
The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.
The London Ambulance Service confirmed it was called to the scene, and dispatched two motorcycle responders, a car and an ambulance.
Property developer St James has launched an investigation into the incident.
A spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that we learnt of an incident at our Corniche development on Albert Embankment, in which a man suffered fatal injuries.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to his family at this incredibly difficult time.
"We are investigating this incident as a matter of urgency and working with the emergency services to establish what happened."
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The Corniche is listed as an "exclusive riverside address" of 252 two, three, and four-bedroom apartments which overlook a number of London landmarks.
Designed by Foster + Partners, it is the same company responsible for the Gherkin, and properties within the development come with a price tag of between £2.7m and £6.25m.
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