Fan rushed to hospital after roof fall drama
The hole in the roof of Tynecastle Garage
A PROBE was under way today after a man being pursued by police after a pub fight plunged 20ft through a roof as he tried to escape.
Officers had been chasing father-of-two Ian Ross, 31, through streets and gardens following a fight at Robertson’s Bar in Gorgie Road and are believed to have threatened to release a police dog shortly before he scrambled on to the garage roof.
Mr Ross, who is thought to have been among Hearts fans drinking at the pub following the team’s 1-1 derby draw with Hibs on Sunday, fell through a plastic skylight on to cars and machinery below.
He suffered serious injuries to his head and body and his family were at his bedside in hospital today.
A source close to the family was quoted saying they were “prepared for the worst”.
A barman at Robertson’s said that a “scuffle” involving two men had broken out in the pub at around 9.30pm, and both had left the premises.
The chase ensued when officers called to the disturbance saw a man trying to make off from the scene.
Messages of support for Ian appeared today on the social network Twitter. One from Bonnyrigg boxer Craig McEwan said: “Please pray for Ian Ross who is fighting for his life in hospital.”
A witness, who saw what happened from his home in nearby Newton Street, said he heard shouting then watched the man climb on to the roof of Tynecastle Garage.
He said: “There was seven to eight police chasing the guy. The police shouted, ‘The police dog is coming’ so the guy scrambled on the roof.”
“It’s a fibre glass roof, so the guy was obviously going to fall through. I saw him fall.”
The onlooker said the police officers were in a garden next to the garage as the man scaled the roof.
He added: “There’s steel beams, lots of cars and I think there’s machinery inside.
“Some neighbours warned him he was going to fall.”
Another neighbour from Newton Street said: “I had to shout to a policeman to not get on the roof. He was trying to follow the guy that fell through and obviously didn’t see the fibre glass bit.”
A large hole was left visible in the clear plastic that runs the length of the garage roof.
Another resident said: “I heard a lot of banging and there were heaps of police cars everywhere. I heard noise from the garage.
“There were police all night, police dog vans, ambulances and men in white suits.”
A police spokesman said: “Police were called to a report of an altercation at a licensed premise on Gorgie Road around 9.30pm on Sunday.
“When officers attended, they were made aware that a man who was suspected of being involved in the incident was making off from police.
“Officers pursued him through a number of streets and gardens and requested he stop several times, however he failed to do so.
“He made his way on to the roof of a garage on Gorgie Road, which he fell through.”
Officers helped paramedics reach the man, who was rushed to the Royal Infirmary.
The police spokesman added: “The use of police dogs is a standard tactic for officers trying to trace a suspect when they are lost to sight and when we believe they are concealing themselves. Inquiries are ongoing in relation to this incident.”
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Weather for Edinburgh
Tuesday 18 June 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
