Mick Ferris, 53, died after a huge sheet plummeted from the building housing multi-million pound apartments opposite the Tate Britain in Central London on Tuesday.
The West Ham fan was killed instantly when the glass crashed to next to the Albert Embankment just before 11am.
Now it has emerged two carpenters narrowly avoided the same tragic fate in a near-identical incident in August 2017.
This shocking mishap saw a casement window fall from an upper floor and crash near the workers below.
It came during construction of the luxury block and prompted a "massive" investigation, developers said.
And it led to an internal inquiry and changes to the design of the building — where flats cost up to £6million.
A spokesman for property developers St James, part of the Berkeley Group, told The Sun Online: "There was an incident at The Corniche in August 2017, during construction, where a casement window fell from the upper floor."
They added that "no one was hurt" in the shocking construction blunder.
The spokesman continued: "There was a full investigation instigated by St James, after which the design was amended in accordance with the expert advice received.
"St James is continuing to assist the Metropolitan Police and the HSE with their ongoing enquiries and is carrying out its own investigation into yesterday's incident.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to Mr Ferris' family at this incredibly difficult time."
The Sun Online has contacted the Health and Safety Executive for comment on last year's near-miss.
It is understood that many of the flats in the building have been sold — but the pane that killed Mr Ferris fell from a 27th-floor property that was still empty.
Contractors were believed to be doing decorative work at the penthouse flat at the Corniche tower in Vauxhall, South West London.
Mr Ferris' distraught son Daniel wrote on Facebook this morning: "Yesterday my family where shocked by the news that my dad's been killed suddenly in London.
"Heartbroken isn't the world to describe how myself and the family feel."
He added: "I love you so much dad and I'll think about you every day. My life long idol. Always in my heart and mind.
"Now that your gone West Ham are gonna pull it out the bag and win every match of the season just you watch.'
Daniel's wife Jessica added her own tribute, writing: "We miss you now and always, gone too soon."
TV star James Corden tweeted: "I'm so saddened by the passing of Mick Ferris.
"He was a huge West Ham fan and has passed away in the most sudden of circumstances.
"My thoughts are with his family and everyone who knew him. None of us are promised tomorrow. Tell your loved ones you love them today x x x".
It is believed Mr Ferris stopped to use the toilet in the Riverbank Plaza Hotel next door to the Corniche.
He was returning to his motor when the pane fell on top of him, witnesses said.
A colleague last night described the much loved driver as a "lovely bloke" and called his sudden death "tragic."
Scrap dealer Paddy Riley, 59, was driving past the Corniche when he saw the man's body lying on the ground.
He told the Sun Online: "My first thought was the man had fallen from the top of the building because a window was missing.
"He was covered in blood. It was very distressing to see.
"He had a blunt trauma and there was shattered glass on the ground.
"A group of workers sprinted over and I saw them pointing up at the top floor window.
"They were obviously saying it wasn’t there anymore and I saw a white sheet flapping out of the window."
According to an employee working on the adjacent building, The Dumont, Mick had left his coach and crossed the road to go to the shop next to the four star Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel.
He told The Sun Online: “My colleague saw the whole thing and told me the victim was a coach driver.
“He said he left his coach to cross the road to either go to the shop or use the toilet.
"When he was walking back to the coach the glass window fell on top of him.”
Builder Jermaine Dawes who was working nearby said: "I came back from lunch and I saw glass everywhere.
"Police were all over the road, he wasn't moving, it was such a mess.
"People are saying that a cleaner was too forceful with the window and that's why it fell."
Mr Ferris was known for charming passengers with his wit and humour as he ferried them between London and Rochester in the Medway, Kent.
Clarkes Coaches, who he drove for, said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the victim's family.
"It is not appropriate for us to comment any further while the police investigate this tragedy and speak to the next of kin".
Neighbour Ricky Kalsi told The Sun: "I've been in tears all day.
"Mick was one of the most generous people I've ever known, and a model neighbour.
"It was a privilege to know him".
Did you know Mick, or see what happened? Email [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
Mick's body, which was seen lying in the road outside the property and covered by a sheet, was surrounded by wooden pallets and splatters of blood as emergency services surveyed the scene.
The Corniche is advertised as an “exclusive address” of two, three and four bedroom apartments and penthouses with panoramic views over the Houses of Parliament.
Designed by Foster + Partners, it is the same company responsible for the new Wembley, City Hall and the Gherkin, and properties are priced between £2.7million and £6.25million.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman yesterday said officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at around 10.40am on Tuesday to reports of a man injured in Albert Embankment, central London.
He added: “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.
London Ambulance Service confirmed it was called to the incident, and dispatched two motorcycle responders, a car and an ambulance.
A spokesman said: "Sadly, a person was dead at the scene."
Property developer St James earlier said it was investigating the incident at its Corniche building.
A spokesman said yesterday: "It is with great sadness that we learnt of an incident at our Corniche development on Albert Embankment this morning, 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."
Source: Read Full Article