Shoppers watched in horror as a man appeared to fall from safety railings onto an escalator at Huddersfield’s Kingsgate Centre.
Seconds earlier the man was witnessed wrecking displays at nearby Body Shop before entering the TK Maxx store and going down the escalator.
As he reached the basement level, he then headed back up on the ascending escalator.
He got to the top and is believed to have been approached by security staff and at that point clambered onto the safety railings close to the lift.
He then fell from the railings onto the escalator below.
One witness said: “He walked into Body Shop and smashed up a display. He then staggered towards TK Maxx.
“He didn’t look right. He was shouting and swearing. The next thing I saw was him by the lift and he was approached by security. He was climbing on the edge of the railings and then he just fell.
“He fell onto the escalator below and appeared to carried by it back up to the top. He was bleeding from his head.
“It’s just shocking. It’s not what you expect to see. I hope he is okay.”
Another witness said: “I heard someone swearing and looked and saw a man, he must have only been about 19.
“I think he smashed some things in Body Shop then came over to TK Maxx entrance.
“As he was coming back up on the escalator he got to the top and moved towards the lift. He then climbed onto the railings and fell.
“It was awful. As soon as I saw him on the railings my heart sank and just hoped he would get down.
“I hope he is alright.”
Police were first on the scene and an ambulance was called. The man was treated at the scene and was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with injuries that were described as serious but not life-threatening.
Body Shop remained open as normal but the TK Maxx store was cordoned off for much of the morning.
A police spokesman said: “We were called at 9.41am to reports that a male has fallen from the escalator at TK Maxx in Kingsgate Centre.
“A young male has sustained head injury and has been taken to LGI.”
