Leith shopkeeper thought he was 'going to die' after being trapped in ceiling collapse

A shopkeeper has told how he thought he was going to die after being pinned to the ground when his store's ceiling collapsed on top of him.

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Mohammed Sajid had to "fight his way out" of the debris when the interior ceiling caved in at Bishop Newsagents in Leith on Wednesday evening.

Emergency services, including police, ambulances and fire engines, rushed to the corner of Constitution Street and Bernard Street shortly before 7pm as a massive dust cloud spilled onto the pavement.

"It came down on top of me and put me to the ground," Mr Sajid told the Evening News. "There were three or four other people in the shop and they all managed to escape.

"But I was trapped inside and I had to fight my way out of the debris. I thought I was going to die.”

Fire officer cordoned off the shop after the inner ceiling collapsed | Iconic

Mr Sajid said he noticed the ceiling looked "wonky" on Wednesday morning and called a builder to check it out.

“He looked at it and left, saying he would come back and bring a ladder,” he said. “But he didn’t come back.”

“About five to six hours later I noticed one of the tiles coming out of place, as well as the metal frame that holds it up.

“Then, about three hours ago, it just came down.”

Mr Sajid said he was feeling “okay” after the incident but had been left shaken.

Emergency services arrived "super quick", according to an eyewitness, with fire crew immediately moving the public back from the doorway to secure the area.

Eyewitnesses describe a cloud of dust as the inner ceiling caved in | Iconic

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed multiple resources and specialist equipment were dispatched during the incident.

It is understood several casualties were attended to by paramedics, however the extent of their injuries have not been confirmed.

Eyewitness Evie Dransfield, who was nearby when the shop’s ceiling came down, said the people outside looked "really shocked" and were covered in debris.

She said: "It was crazy. I saw a massive amount of dust come all the way across the pavement, practically onto the tram line.

"When I got closer, I saw the people outside covered in dust and looking really shocked."

Another eyewitness said: “I was running past at the time the ceiling caved in. I initially thought it was ongoing construction but as I stopped I saw the customers and shopkeeper coming out covered in dust.

“There was lots of coughing and people in shock but glad everyone seemed unharmed.”

Customers were in the shop at the time of the collapse. | Submitted

A staff member at the nearby Diggers pub said a customer saw the immediate aftermath of the collapse, describing "plaster everywhere".

The worker said: "I didn’t see it myself but one of the customers went out and said the inner ceiling of the shop had collapsed and there was plaster everywhere.

"I heard there were three people inside, they came out covered in dust. It was just like, oh my god. Then four fire engines arrived as well as ambulances and police."

Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service have been approached for comment.

The shop is located in Waterloo Buildings, a large 19th-century tenement and commercial block on the corner of Constitution Street and Bernard Street.