TWO WOMEN suffered serious injuries in an accident on an escalator in Halesowen's Cornbow Shopping Centre.

Four people were hurt in an incident on an escalator at around 12.15pm yesterday (Monday).

It is believed an elderly gentleman had a dizzy spell and fell backwards.

Cornbow Centre Manager Eve O'Conner said an off-duty paramedic and the two nurses helped the casulaties as they waited for the emergency services. 

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service had said initially that just one woman was seriously hurt in the incident and had been taken to the QE hospital.

But today (Tuesday) a spokesman confirmed that two women had been taken to the QE with serious injuries. 

The spokesman said two people, a man and a woman were taken to Russells Hall Hospital with less serious injuries.

They said: "We were called to the Cornbow Shopping Centre at around 12.15pm to reports of four people who had fallen whilst on an escalator.

"We treated four patients - two, a man and a woman were taken to Russells Hall Hospital.

"Two women were taken to the QE Hospital with serious injures."

The women's injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The spokeswoman said all the patients were taken to hospital by land ambulance and the Midlands Air Ambulance was called, but was then stood down. 

The Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care car did attend the incident.

Witnesses told of their shock over the incident on Facebook.

Jo Jamieson said: "It looked quite bad.

"I'd just come through from the lift from car park and had started to walk across by Costa Coffee and saw the people falling.

"The noise was vile. It made me ill just to see it.

"Thankfully it didn't take long for paramedics to arrive xx."

She added: "Hoping all involved will make a fast and full recovery."

Katie White said :"Hope whoever's involved will be ok."

Cornbow Shopping Centre manager Eve O'Connor said: "We’re obviously so sorry this unfortunate incident happened. 

“We can confirm that at approximately 12.20pm, a gentleman fell down the escalator in the atrium and involved another three customers as he fell.

“We would like to thank the off-duty paramedic and the two nurses who assisted centre staff while we waited for the arrival of the emergency services who attended promptly. 

“Investigations are already underway.

“Our chief concern is the wellbeing of all those involved and to ensure we do everything reasonably practical in our power to prevent a recurrence.”