Two companies have been fined a combined £1.3 million following the death of a man struck by a falling window pane from a luxury apartment building in London. Mick Ferris, 53, was killed on October 2, 2018, when a 130-kilogram window fell approximately 26 storeys from The Corniche development in Vauxhall.

At a sentencing hearing held at Inner London Crown Court, property developer St James Group Ltd was fined £1 million, while the specialist façade contractor Lindner Prater received a £300,000 penalty. Additionally, both firms were ordered to pay £125,000 each in costs.

In August, the two companies were found guilty of breaching health and safety regulations under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Prosecutors said the firms had ignored "foreseeable risks" that ultimately led to the fatal incident.

Ferris was returning to his coach when the window pane — measuring roughly 85cm by 190cm — detached from a height of about 90 metres (300 feet). The court heard that a panel had fallen from the same building in August 2017, yet no significant changes were made to the window design or safety measures.

The Corniche, situated on the Thames with views overlooking Parliament, is known for its high-end residential units, some listed for sale at £3 million. The trial revealed that the window design was inherently unsafe, as it opened outwards and was secured by a single metal restrictor that failed to prevent the panel from being dislodged by wind.

The judge criticised St James for insufficient oversight, stating the company should have been more diligent in ensuring that essential safety components were in place and functioning. Speaking on behalf of St James, a spokesperson expressed condolences to Ferris’s family and acknowledged the court’s decision and imposed fine.

During the proceedings, Ferris’s widow, Rachel, made a statement expressing her grief and frustration. She said that if anyone had taken any action to improve safety, her husband’s death might have been prevented, emphasising that the companies’ failings led to her loss.