Solihull High Street Starbucks lift shaft plunge woman was staff member

A woman who was taken to hospital with "serious injuries" after falling down a lift shaft at a Starbucks was an employee, the company has confirmed.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the woman fell approximately 25 feet (7.6 metres) and suffered a suspected broken leg and pelvis.

Paramedics reported the woman tried to use the lift at the store on Solihull High Street but fell when she stepped into the lift shaft and found nothing there.

Emergency services were called to the shop at 12.35pm on Thursday and ambulance staff and firefighters helped extricate her.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "The woman had suffered probable breaks to her pelvis and leg.

"After being immobilised and having splints applied, she was taken by ambulance to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, for further assessment and treatment."

A Starbucks spokeswoman said the shop will remain closed while investigations are carried out.

She added: "We are shocked and distressed by this terrible incident and we're working closely with the authorities as they investigate how this could have happened."

The Health and Safety Executive said it will be for the local authority to investigate the incident.

A spokesman for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council said it was aware of the reports and a public protection officer from the council was at the scene.