Bridget Teirney shared footage of the incident on Twitter with the crane crashing behind her building on Tuesday afternoon while she was working from home.

A woman died and four people were injured when a 20-metre crane collapsed on to houses and a block of flats which were being built at Compton Close in Bow.

Her father Ralph said Bridget, who had lived in London for three years, had a terrible shock when the crane collapsed.

"We are very relieved but sad because there were serious injuries and a death. It could have easily fallen on her place," he said.

Mr Teirney said she had a particular interest in the event having previously providing safety advice to tradesmen while working as a graduate in the mines in Queensland.

"As a civil engineer, she has had some years of safety conversations but this one she was definitely not expecting," she said.

"She used to chair safety meetings so it is interesting that she is witnessing the safety event."

Ms Teirney went to an evacuation centre and took part in television interviews.