ONE of the victims of a balcony collapse that seriously injured four people has spoken of his shock after the holiday property website they used refused to admit liability.

Alex Browning was one of a London group who rented the flat in Montpelier Road, Brighton, through online company Airbnb and is upset that they are refusing to pay out.

With three others, he fell two floors into a basement area when the balcony on the 19th-century townhouse gave way. One woman, Jessica Paterson, shattered her pelvis, needing a seven-hour operation, while Harry Dee was impaled on iron railings. A fourth victim, Claire Corfield, broke her back and suffered arterial bleeding.

Mr Browning, now 31, broke his wrist in four places and had cuts to his face after the fall at about 11.45pm on July 1 this year.

Five months on, following hours of rehabilitation and recovery, the group now want Airbnb to apologise, accept responsibility and cover their ongoing costs.

Mr Browning, a lawyer, said: "I'm really shocked and disappointed at Airbnb's complete lack of recognition of responsibility – we have been diverted to 'Airbnb Ireland', pointed to the website's term and conditions and not had any form of apology or personal communication. It really exposes the true downside of the 'sharing economy'."

The Argus reported the collapse at the time, which saw a protracted rescue operation as emergency crews shifted rubble to get to the victims and rush them to hospital.

Mr Browning added: "It was a really painful experience both physically and psychologically for all of us, including our friends and partners who had to pick our unconscious bodies out of the debris.

"The whole ordeal is ongoing and affects us every day.

Airbnb works by flat-owners or tenants letting out a room, apartment or house for short periods to holidaymakers. The San Francisco-based company takes up to 12.5 per cent of each listing and has been valued at £20 billion.

Mr Dee, 28, who used to live in Brighton, said: "Airbnb present themselves as a socially conscious company yet have offered absolutely no support.

"The impact on my life after the accident has been huge. I am self-employed and was unable to work, so lost my flat and had to move back to my mum's house. This had a big impact on my self-esteem and self-worth."

Jenny Kennedy, solicitor at Anthony Gold, who is representing the group added: “This was a terrible accident. My clients have suffered very serious and life changing injuries."

Alison Holberton, a spokeswoman for Airbnb, said: "The safety of our community is our number one priority.

"We provide all hosts in the UK with Host Protection Insurance which provides insurance coverage for up to $1 million in the rare event of an injury.

"As soon as we were aware of the incident, we reached out to the guest to provide support."

Airbnb said the case was ongoing case and could not comment further.

Monika Payne, listed on Airbnb as the host, told the Guardian she could not comment as insurers were still investigating.

'SUDDENLY THEY WERE GONE ... I THOUGHT THEY WERE DEAD'

BEN MASON was chatting with his best friends at the Airbnb rental flat in Brighton.

It was a calm Friday evening in July this year and the London group of friends were looking forward to a weekend near the sea.

His fiancée, Jessica Paterson, was one of four people on the balcony of the 19th-century building. Mr Mason, whose toes were on the balcony, suddenly saw Miss Paterson plummet into the basement as the balcony gave way.

Mr Mason said: "One minute I was talking to my fiancé and my best friends – the next, they were gone.

"I will never forget the scene of carnage that I looked down on.

"I thought they were all dead, and that is etched in my mind."

Neighbours said they heard a loud bang.

One resident standing outside in nightclothes, who did not want to be named, told The Argus at the time: "We heard a loud bang and came outside.

"From inside the flat it felt like a car crash."

Three of those who fell were knocked unconscious. As well as a shattered pelvis, Miss Paterson suffered a lacerated liver and a lung injury.

Former Brightonian Harry Dee, 28, was the only victim to remain conscious throughout. He was impaled on railings that just missed the major organs in his torso and managed to free himself as Mr Mason rushed downstairs to help.

Jenny Kennedy, solicitor at Anthony Gold who is representing the group, said: "It has been very difficult to get any response from Airbnb – they have been left without any assistance.

"Four young people plunge into the basement when a first-floor balcony collapses; this cannot be their fault and they should be compensated.

"There is an obligation under the rehabilitation code that Airbnb assess their immediate needs."