Sharif Abdallah said he was training inside his building’s gym on Wednesday night when the ceiling collapsed on him and the debris left him with near-fatal injuries.
The incident happened around 11:15 p.m. inside Reunion Crossing, a new condominium complex at 1808 St. Clair Avenue West, just east of Old Weston Road.
He was wearing headphones and said he heard a soft sound, like wood cracking, before hearing a louder sound.
When he looked up, he saw that the ceiling was bowing. Abdallah told the only person in the gym, a woman on a treadmill, to go outside and run, she said.
“If the alarm hadn’t gone off and I had fallen, I would have been in the hospital,” Abdallah told CTV News Toronto. “If I had been there, the roof would have fallen on me.”
In photos, the ceiling can be seen covering much of the gym floor, engulfing equipment in what appears to be gray debris and beige insulation. Some wires can also be seen hanging overhead.
A spokesperson for the developer told CTV News Toronto that no injuries were reported.
Danny Ross, on behalf of Diamond Kilmer Development Co., said: “We can confirm that an isolated incident occurred in our apartment community yesterday…finish details in the design of our fitness facility came off the ceiling. Danny Ross told CTV News Toronto on behalf of Diamond Kilmer Development. statement. The Toronto Fire Department said no firefighters were called to the building.
The area was temporarily closed for investigation and “necessary repairs,” Ross said.
“Our construction consultants and engineers continue to advise that there are no concerns about the structural integrity of the units or the building structure itself, as this accident appears to have been caused by a defective design element,” the statement read. has been written.
According to reports, construction on the building began in June 2020 after delays due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Update condominium construction status online.
Abdallah said he felt lucky to escape and added that he was glad he was able to warn the woman on the treadmill. But Abdallah said the close call prompted him to look for a new place to live.
