A man collapsed and died after being overcome with fumes as he used chemicals to try and unblock a drain in a tower block in Paddington.
Around 50 people were evacuated from the 20-storey block in Paddington after people reported a chemical smell at around 6.10pm last night.
Firefighters donned chemical protection suits and found the body of a man collapsed in a flat on the 17th floor of Parson’s House in Hall Place.
Paramedics attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A London Fire Service spokesman said: "A strange chemical smell was reported on the 17th floor of a block of flats in Parson's House at around 18.13 yesterday.
"We were called to investigate and found it was coming from a flat on the 17th floor where we found a dead body on the premises.
"A team was sent to Parson's House, near Paddington, and used breathing apparatus and chemical suits to investigate its source.
"Around 50 people were evacuated from the 15th-19th floors.
“Crews wearing gas tight suits ventilated the property and made it safe.”
Scotland Yard said the incident was declared ‘non-suspicious’ and residents were allowed back into their homes shortly before 9pm.
Officers from Westminster police are investigating the incident and the death is being treated as unexplained.
