A man died in a shocking freak accident after falling from an escalator inside a busy Toronto shopping mall, authorities said.

Emergency crews rushed to the RioCan Empress Walk Plaza in North York at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, following reports of what was initially described as an industrial accident involving an escalator.

When police and paramedics arrived, they discovered that a man had fallen from the escalator. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Toronto police quickly evacuated the shopping plaza and shut down the building while officers investigated the horrifying incident.

Authorities later said there was no evidence that the man’s death was criminal in nature.

Witness Lucas Hay told Global News that she saw a heavy police and security presence inside the mall before shoppers were calmly escorted outside.

“We saw a blanket over [the ground] and a lot of cops and security guards just around, and then eventually we were outside, and we saw people coming out [of the mall],” Hay said.

Despite the disturbing scene, she said shoppers did not panic.

“There was no panic at all. It was just because there were a lot of people around, so they had to slowly usher everyone out,” she explained.

RioCan, one of Canada’s largest real estate investment trusts and the company that operates the property, said it was cooperating fully with the investigation.

“We are deeply saddened by this incident and extend our sincere condolences to the individual’s family and loved ones,” the organization said in a statement obtained by the Toronto Sun.

“We defer any questions regarding the incident to Toronto Police and are unable to comment further.”

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority also launched an investigation following the fatal fall.

TSSA spokesperson Alexandra Campbell told the Toronto Star that investigators found no evidence the escalator had malfunctioned.

“There are no mechanical problems with the escalator itself,” Campbell said.

The Ministry of Labour was also notified, according to Toronto police. However, the department told Global News that it would not be investigating because the death did not involve an employee or any workplace activity.

“The incident did not involve a worker or workplace activity and does not fall under the ministry’s jurisdiction,” the ministry said.

Authorities have not released the man’s identity or explained exactly how he fell from the escalator.