A woman has claimed she lost her unborn baby after a newly installed metal door fell on her at her Croydon flat.

On May 23, a Croydon Council contractor worked on the metal exterior door where Hollie Barnett’s flat is.

The work was stated as being complete, however, that night, the door is reported to have fallen on Hollie as she was leaving.

The 32-year-old was rushed to hospital where she has been undergoing treatment for several months.

(Image: Hollie Barnett)

The mum-of-four told Your Local Guardian: “Croydon Council was working on the door that day.

“They signed it off, saying everything was okay.

“But that night, I came outside and walked out through the door, but the door fell behind me.”

Hollie was knocked unconscious and later recalled waking up to find three people lifting the metal doors off her, where she had been trapped.

She added: “I remember my neighbours calling for an ambulance, but they couldn’t get me one.

“So, they had to drive me to the hospital, where they discovered I had five fractures altogether.”

Hollie says she had a broken ankle, two broken bones in each of her legs, and one in her right shoulder.

(Image: Hollie Barnett)

She stayed in the hospital for several weeks and underwent three surgeries on her leg.

She now has a metal rod, pins, and bolts in her ankles.

A Croydon Council spokesperson has said that the health and safety of its tenants is a priority and that the cause of this incident is being investigated with its contractor.

The council "cannot comment on the incident further while investigations are ongoing".

Hollie is a full-time carer for her eight-year-old disabled son, but the accident has prevented her from continuing this role.

Hollie said: “The accident has affected my caring for my son massively.

“I can’t do anything with my son now, and my partner is now not working.

“He’s now having to stay home with me to help with the children.

“It’s affecting the children so much because I can’t do anything, and I can’t pick them up.”

When she underwent surgery, doctors told Hollie that she was pregnant, something she hadn’t known at the time.

She said: “I found out I had to do a different surgery because I was pregnant, but I was paralysed downwards.

“And it wasn’t until I came home four days later that I found out that I had lost the baby.”

Hollie explained that Croydon Council had given her an apology, but that it wasn't enough given how it has affected her life.

Croydon Council said its housing service "has been supporting" Hollie with visits to assess her housing situation.

(Image: Hollie Barnett)

A spokesperson added that they are making every effort to secure more suitable accommodation that meets her family's needs and that they will continue to support her throughout the process.

Hollie said that each of her four children, all aged under 18, had been affected “awfully” by the accident.

She said: “It’s so difficult for them.

“I can’t be on my own at any time.

“And it’s really hard for them, especially now that it’s the summer holidays.

“We can’t do anything together and my partner can’t do anything with them either because he’s looking after our disabled son.

“There are six of us living in a two-bedroom flat with stairs.”

After undergoing hospital treatment, Hollie is now in a wheelchair.

“The doctors managed to get me home, but they said I might not have been so lucky.

“I’m fortunate enough to be alive.”