Five shoppers who witnessed the man's death where treated for shock after the incident at around 6pm last night
Shoppers watched in horror as a man plunged to his death from an escalator in Debenhams’ flagship store.
Children were among those who witnessed the Bonfire Night tragedy at the shop on London’s Oxford Street.
Sources say the unnamed man, aged in his 40s, jumped from a third-floor escalator on Wednesday evening at around 6.15pm.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics who treated five traumatised shoppers for shock.
One witness said: “I was there, but saw little and got out as fast as I could. It was horrible.
“From the fourth floor looking over the railings you could see people rushing around.
“It was obvious something horrible happened.
“Decorative boxes for a Christmas display were scattered around and about 20 minutes later they said over the Tannoy the store was closing immediately.”
Another witness added: “I heard a loud bang, commotion followed and a man was lying on the ground. I initially thought it was fireworks.”
One woman named Rachel posted on Twitter: “Someone just committed suicide in Debenhams...people are traumatised.
“They must have been going through a lot to go like that.”
@Rachel_Desire just saw it too!!! Horrific!!!!
— Emma Jamieson (@EmmaJEats) November 5, 2014 @angie_beebee mateeee people are traumatised
— 29|11|14 (@Rachel_Desire) November 5, 2014 Thousands of people were shopping at the store, which covers seven floors, when the man died at 6.15pm on Wednesday.
Ambulance crews and police were called to the scene.
A spokesman from the London Ambulance service said: “We arrived after reports a man had fallen from a big height.
“The man was dead at the scene; and we treated five people for shock, but they weren’t taken to hospital.”
Police believe they know the victim’s name but he is yet to be formally identified.
A post-mortem is now due to take place.
A spokesman from New Scotland Yard added: “Whilst officers believe they know who the deceased is they await formal identification.
“A post mortem examination will be arranged in due course.
“Officers are carrying out inquiries into the circumstances of the death.
“At this early stage the death is being treated as unexplained.”
A Debenhams spokesman added: “We can confirm that police were called to the Oxford Street store following a serious incident where a man fell from the third floor.
“At this stage there are thought to be no suspicious circumstances.
“Debenhams continues to work with the authorities on the matter.”
“At this stage there are thought to be no suspicious circumstances.”
The store is Debenhams’ largest and covers seven floors.
