Balcony horror at £7million Knightsbridge flat

Two dead in balcony horror at £7million Knightsbridge flat: Railings break as removal men try to move sofa into home of millionaire lawyer linked to royals and stars 

• Eight men fell from first floor in Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge at 10am
• Workers were carrying a sofa when the balcony and railings collapsed  
• Removal team and the furniture fell around 30ft to the ground 
• Flat was being renovated ahead of owner Taher Helmy moving in
• The international lawyer has mixed with the Royal family and celebrities 
• One person died on street and the other at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington
• The six other workers were treated for minor injuries at the scene
• One witness said at least one of the men was impaled on railings below 
• Cadogan Square is one of London's wealthiest streets with £25m homes 

Two men were killed and six others were injured today when a first floor balcony collapsed outside a £7million apartment owned by a renowned international lawyer. 

The pair suffered catastrophic injuries when a sofa fell from the balcony of a luxury flat that was under renovation in Cadogan Square in Knightsbridge - one of London's most exclusive streets.

The builders, understood to be Polish, were working for a British-based building and construction company that has been warned in recent years about safety standards, it was reported last night.

Property owner Taher Helmy, 64, who has mixed with the Royal family and Hollywood celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher, said that he was 'very sad' that the 'terrible accident' had happened. 

Local MP Greg Hands said the combined weight of the workers and the furniture caused the balcony to collapse, sending workmen and the sofa tumbling around 30ft to the ground at 10am.   

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Tragedy: This balcony collapsed on the exclusive Cadogan Square in Knightsbridge this morning - killing two people and injuring at least six (file picture)

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Incident: A police forensic tent covers one of the bodies at the scene this afternoon, where the men fell 30ft

Owner: International lawyer Taher Helmy, left, and his wife Cherine with Hollywood star Ashton Kutcher 

Witnesses said at least one of the men was impaled on the iron railings below, which were photographed by a Scotland Yard forensics team today.

One of the workmen died in the street and another in a Paddington hospital, while their six colleagues were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Cadogan Square is among London's most exclusive addresses with homes worth up to £25million, with former residents including Jose Mourinho, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Flavio Briatore.

Mr Helmy once a close ally of deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, said he was ‘devastated’ by the tragedy.

Source: the Mail

Singer Richard Marx lists historic Chicago waterfront for sale at record $18M

Singer Richard Marx lists historic Chicago waterfront for sale at record $18M as he finalizes divorce from wife of 25 years

• Nine-bedroom mansion on Lake Michigan in Lake Bluff
• Bought for $4.7 million in 1997
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• Marx and wife Cynthia Rhodes confirmed their divorce in April
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• House designed by famed architect David Adler in 1931
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• Has eight bathrooms, home theater, recording studio and 19 fireplaces  

Pop-rocker Richard Marx has listed his Chicago mansion for sale at a record $18 million as he finalizes his divorce from wife of 25 years, Dirty Dancing actress Cynthia Rhodes.

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Split: Richard Marx and his actress wife Cynthia Rhodes (seen here in 1994) confirmed their divorce in April. They are now selling their marital home

The couple - who have three adult sons, Brandon, 23, Lucas, 21, and Jesse, 20 - announced their split in April, but have been separated since July last year.

Their marital home is a sprawling nine-bedroom estate on Lake Michigan in Lake Bluff that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its design and history.

Marx and Rhodes purchased the three-story house for $4.7 million in 1997 when their children were young.

The 51-year-old singer, whose career has been built on love ballads like Right Here Now, said he has not spoken to anyone about what lead to the breakdown of his marriage - and intends to keep it that way.

'I wouldn't discuss that with even some of my close friends,' he told People.

'It's really nobody's business.

'What I will say is that I had the great fortune and blessing to not only be married to Cynthia for all those years, but to just share her company.

'There's not a finer human being.

'I'm very grateful that we were together, had three amazing sons and I can't say enough about what an amazing person she is and how lucky I was to share that time with her.'

Marx also denied that his new album, Beautiful Goodbye, was penned in the wake of the breakup.

'It has been a painful time,' he told the magazine.

'But I don't necessarily want to bury myself in songs about it, frankly, out of respect. 

'I have nothing but love and respect for my ex-wife and I don't really want to delve into that in songwriting so much. 

'Not to say that I never will, but I didn't feel like that's where I wanted to write from. 

'I wanted to write from a more positive, inspired, hopeful place.'

With the price tag set at $18 million, Marx's waterfront abode comes in at number four for the most expensive properties ever listed in the Chicago area, according to The Chicago Tribune.

In addition to the nine bedrooms, there are eight bathrooms, a home theater, and a 8,000-square-foot recording studio attached to the house.

For an area notorious for its winters, there are also 19 fireplaces.

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Yours for $18 million: Richard Marx has listed his Georgian-style mansion in Lake Bluff for sale

Sprawling: The U-shaped estate (plus attached recording studio-left) measures at five acres and sits right on Lake Michigan

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Entry: The home was first built in 1931 and has grand finishings

Restored: Marx and his now-ex wife Cynthia Rhodes have somewhat modernized the home

Historic: The former couple paid $4.7 million for the home in 1997

Warm and cozy: The house has a total of 19 fireplaces

Family: Marx and his former wife raised their three sons in the home

Homely: Marx has owned the house for the last 17 years

Formal: A proper dining room sits right off the kitchen

Famous: Marx is known for his hits Right Here Waiting and Now and Forever

Decadent: The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Grand: The master bathroom is particularly opulent

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The well-built home is equipped to withstand the areas harsh winters

The home was built in 1931 and was designed by architect David Adler, the force behind Massachusetts landmark Castle Hill.

It was originally part of a 73-acre estate.

However today it measures at five acres.

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Richard Marx new album may be titled Beautiful Goodbye, but he swears it's not about his breakup with longtime love, Dirty Dancing's Cynthyia Rhodes. 

"There were people who thought that, especially with the name of the album, that it was going to be a record about splitting up," Marx tells PEOPLE. "And it's not that at all. It's really a celebration of romance and seduction." 

The pop singer announced his divorce from his wife of 25 years in April, but the couple had been separated since last July. 
"It has been a painful time," he said. "But I don't necessarily want to bury myself in songs about it, frankly, out of respect. I have nothing but love and respect for my ex-wife and I don't really want to delve into that in songwriting so much. Not to say that I never will, but I didn't feel like that's where I wanted to write from. I wanted to write from a more positive, inspired, hopeful place." 



Source: the Mail