A man died after being crushed by a hydraulic urinal while working on the device in central London.

The city of London installed pop-up urinals in their entertainment districts about ten years ago. They only come out at night when they are needed for people enjoying the nightlife of the city. During the day, they drop down into the ground into what look like maintenance hole covers. They are a convenience for bar-goers who hang out on the street, and they help lower the incidence of people urinating in alleyways. 

On Friday, January 27, a man died after a urinal crushed him in Central London during the day. The man was working on the device underground and it descended on top of him and crushed him. He was trapped underground and seriously injured at Charing Cross Road at around 1pm. 

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said that it took about two and a half hours for firefighters to open the urinal and free the man.  

A statement from the Metropolitan Police Service later in the day said the man had been pronounced dead at the scene. 

Scotland Yard said they had notified the unnamed man’s family and the area was blocked off.