Man plunges from balcony in Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art as emergency crews race to scene

Emergency crews descended on Glasgow city centre this morning after a member of the public fell from a balcony within a popular museum.

The man tumbled inside The Gallery of Modern Art, in the city's Royal Exchange Square, and his condition is not currently known.

The gallery, which recently hosted the exhibition for political activist and street artist Banksy, was forced to close its doors as a result of the incident today, Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

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A picture from the scene shows at least one ambulance, two paramedic vans, one police car and one police van had been scrambled to attend.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Emergency services are in attendance at Royal Exchange Square after reports a man had fallen from height inside an art gallery.

"Police were notified 12.30pm on Wednesday, 11 September, 2024. Enquiries are ongoing. Officers remain at the scene." Police Scotland had earlier posted on social media.

The post read: "We would like to reassure the public following a large emergency presence in Royal Exchange Square. This is related to a report a man has fallen within one of the buildings. There is no wider threat to the public."

A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: "The Gallery of Modern Art has closed early today after a member of the public fell from a balcony.

"Emergency services are in attendance. The building will reopen as normal tomorrow, Thursday 12 September at 10am." The Scottish Ambulance Service was also approached for comment.

A spokesperson said: "We received a call at 12:23 to attend an incident on Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow. We dispatched one ambulance, one paramedic response unit (PRU), and one trauma team to the scene."

Glasgow Life, the body in charge of GoMA, states the building "houses four galleries, a library and gallery shop selling a range inspired by the Collection."

The charity adds: "GoMA is a world class art museum and a place for people to gather, to learn and to share ideas. We display, borrow and collect artworks from around the world."

Royal Exchange Square is also home to the Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington, famous for having a traffic cone placed upon it.

There are also several restaurants and bars in the square, such as Di Maggio's Italian restaurant, The Social bar and grill, cocktail bar Kong, and pub HAUS Glasgow.

And the square is also home to a number of shops, such as Forty Clothing, Reiss Glasgow Exchange, tailoring outlet Forbes, Oxfam Book Shop, and fashion store lululemon.

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