The 23-year-old had been leaning against the balcony of the apartment he shared with his father to look out for a pizza delivery when the railings reportedly broke
A heartbroken mum has paid an emotional tribute to a young man from Co Derry who died after falling five floors from his apartment in central London.
Joshua Robbins, 23, who was originally from Claudy but had moved to London with his father in recent years, tragically plunged to his death at around 8.20pm on January 29.
It has been alleged that the 23-year-old fell from the fifth floor of the apartment block at Holland and Thurston Dwellings on Newton Street, in Holborn, after a “railing gave way” as he looked over a ledge to see if a pizza delivery had arrived.
Joshua’s heartbroken parents, Fiona Garrett and Will Robbins, issued a statement in the wake of the young man’s death saying that they are devastated by his loss and that they will be seeking “truth and accountability” into the alleged safety failings at the apartments.
They said: “Josh lived at Thurston Dwellings on Newton Street in London WC2. Originally from Claudy, Co Derry. Josh moved to London as a young man to seek opportunity, sharing a flat with his dad and building a future for himself.
“On the evening of Thursday, 29 January 2026, at approximately 20:37 hours, when the flat buzzer sounded, Josh assumed it was his pizza delivery. He went out of his front door onto the communal landing by the lift area to see if it was the delivery arriving.
“As he looked over the railing, it gave way. Josh fell from a height of five floors and died on impact.
“Josh’s father Will witnessed the immediate aftermath of his son’s fall, something no parent should ever have to see. He is deeply traumatised by what he witnessed.
“This is not an allegation or speculation. The railing gave way. Our son did not climb it or behave recklessly. A safety barrier that was meant to prevent a fall gave way, with catastrophic consequences.
“Josh was a happy, go-lucky young man who loved life. He loved playing games online with friends and staying connected to people, wherever he was. Growing up in Claudy, Josh loved the craic at the GAA pitch. He didn’t play for a team, but that never stopped him being the best supporter.
“He had a smile that lit up every room and was widely described as kind, funny, and full of charisma, with impeccable manners and an ease with people that made him instantly likeable.
“Josh’s favourite quote was: ‘Every day is precious, just like you.’
“Our family is absolutely devastated. We have lost our son. We should not be planning a cremation. We should not be waiting for pathology reports. We should not be writing statements like this or trying to navigate trauma and bureaucracy at the same time.
“Yet here we are. We are seeking answers not only for Josh, but so that no other family ever has to endure this pain. Not one more.”
Fiona shared a fresh tribute to her son on Friday as she and Joshua’s dad prepared to ‘lay our beautiful boy to rest’.
“My son. My heart. My forever child. Twenty-three years was never enough. Not for his kindness, his gentle soul, his quiet goodness. I don’t know how a world keeps turning when yours stops. I carry you with me always, Josh,” Fiona wrote Fiona in a message shared on Twitter / X ahead of her son’s cremation.
Fiona has launched a GoFundMe in a bid to raise money to help secure legal representation for the family as they seek answers into Joshua’s death.
“Josh was deeply loved. He was gentle, kind, and quietly thoughtful – the sort of young man who made people feel valued in his company. He had plans and hopes for the future. Our lives have been irrevocably changed by his death,” Fiona said in a message shared on the fundraising page.
“Securing appropriate legal representation and independent expert input is essential to ensure that Josh’s death is fully and properly examined, and that our family’s interests are represented.
“These steps carry costs that are frequently beyond the reach of bereaved families. This fundraiser has been created to help us meet those necessary costs and to manage the financial impact Josh’s death has had on us as his parents.”
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