Tommy Hollis was killed when the lamppost fell on him
A civil engineer, who cut the steel base of a lamp post which later toppled over, killing a baby, has given evidence at an inquest into the tragedy.
West London Coroner's Court heard how Kelvin Elmore, who worked for utilities firm McNicholas Construction Ltd, removed a section of the structure's steel support system after mistaking if for part of a disused tramline.
Tommy Hollis was in his pram when he was struck on the head by the lamp post. He later died from brain injuries at the Royal London Hospital, a day before his first birthday.
Mr Elmore had been working on the lamp post outside Chiswick town hall five days before the accident on 23 February 2010.
In a statement read to the inquest, Mr Elmore said: ''As a father myself, I cannot express how horrified I am to have had any involvement in the death of a child. If I could take the place of that child then I would.''
The statement told the court how Elmore had been part of a team clearing the area to lay new cables when he cut the plate, which lay 18 inches from the lamp post.
''I simply thought it was part of an obsolete part of steel track and had no idea it was connected to the lamp post,'' said Mr Elmore.
''I was surprised and shocked how the lamppost had been manipulated to anchor it in the ground.''
Mr Elmore, who said in his statement that he admitted immediately that it was him who had cut the steel, was issued with a written warning after being found guilty of gross misconduct by his company.
The court also heard from Tommy Holis's nanny, Anna Martin, who said she had been pushing him in his buggy when they stopped at the crossing and the lamp post fell.
The metal post struck Tommy and also hit his grandmother Mary Gregory.
''There was a terrible scream and I immediately pulled the pushchair back,''said Ms Martin.
''I didn't know what was wrong, but Tommy's eyes were closed and he looked like he was sleeping, which worried me. I shouted for help.''
Dominic Long, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said the ''Hybrid column'' used to support the lamp post was rare.
The inquest continues.
