Elderly woman dies after falling backwards down M&S escalator

An elderly lady has died after losing her balance and falling backwards on an escalator in an M&S store.

The 94-year-old woman fell on the escalator in a store in Sutton, south London, on Monday hitting her head.

An eyewitness claimed staff tried to find the store's first aider but they had already gone home when the incident occurred at 3pm.

While waiting for paramedics, staff and shoppers shielded the lady from public view with clothes rails.

The shopper, who asked not to be named, said the woman was already "fading away" before paramedics arrived, who later pronounced her dead at the scene.

An M&S spokesperson confirmed the "tragic accident" at the store adding that emergency services were called immediately.

The London Ambulance Service said that they arrived at the store within six minutes but despite "extensive efforts", she died at the scene.