Woman Initiates Legal Action Following Electrocution in St James’s Park

Legal proceedings have been initiated by a woman who sustained an electric shock in a central London park, an incident that led to her admission to intensive care and resulted in memory impairment. Snezana Grigorjeva stated, “When she woke up [in hospital] she was absolutely a different person, that wasn’t my sister.” Anastasija Grigorjeva, a 21-year-old Latvian national, was visiting her sister in London in July when, according to Snezana, her leg went through the grate of a ground-level spotlight, making contact with a live electrical wire. Royal Parks, the entity overseeing St James’s Park where the incident occurred, reported that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was notified, and an investigation concluded with no subsequent actions being pursued. The organization further asserted that the park “provides a safe environment for all.” Snezana, aged 27 and a London resident, recounted that she, her partner, and a friend were engaged in sightseeing when the event transpired. Snezana informed BBC London, “We went from Sloane Square to Buckingham Palace and took some pictures there and then Big Ben and took some more pictures.” Subsequently, they proceeded to Trafalgar Square but opted to seek shelter in a bandstand within St James’s Park as rain began to fall. Snezana stated that upon observing the spotlight, which was designed for nighttime park illumination, they considered it the “best place to take pictures” due to its brightness. Snezana reported that she then turned her head and observed Anastasija lying on the ground with her leg caught in the grate. She recalled, “My first thought was she broke her leg. But she was too quiet. She wasn’t making any noises, she wasn’t crying – she didn’t even look scared.” Snezana mentioned that as she attempted to lift Anastasija by her armpits, she experienced a “tingly feeling in my hands.” Upon the arrival of law enforcement, officers administered a defibrillator to Anastasija, while the other three individuals present were questioned about the incident. Snezana recounted, “She wasn’t breathing, she was blue, and we had no idea if she was alive or was she dead.” Anastasija was transported to St Thomas’ Hospital, where she remained in intensive care for a period of four days. When Anastasija ultimately regained consciousness, her sister observed a change in her demeanor, characterized by episodes of anger and increased impulsive behavior. Snezana explained, “Her heart stopped for a pretty long time and she had no oxygen to her brain – so basically she got a brain injury.” Anastasija was released from the hospital after approximately one month and returned to Latvia to proceed with her recovery. Snezana stated that her sister sustained nerve damage to her foot and continues to experience memory loss, specifically being unable to recall the accident. Snezana commented, “She cannot do any of her jobs. She had three jobs and now none because it is too hard for her.” Magdalena Knez, an attorney with Osbornes Law, is representing Anastasija in a civil lawsuit filed against Royal Parks. Ms. Knez reported that her client is now dependent on her parents, contends with memory and mood difficulties, and has become estranged from her friends. Ms. Knez asserted that Royal Parks bears the responsibility of ensuring the safety of its sites for all users. A spokesperson for Royal Parks stated: “We are sorry to confirm that an incident occurred in St James’s Park in the early hours of one weekend in July 2024, in which a woman was injured. Our thoughts remain with the person involved. The Health and Safety Executive was notified and has completed its investigation with the full co-operation of the Royal Parks and will not be taking any action. Whilst we are not able to comment on an individual legal case, we want to reassure the public that St James’s Park provides a safe environment for all.” A spokesperson for the HSE indicated that the incident was “thoroughly investigated” and, while measures were implemented to “deal with the ongoing risk,” no basis for a prosecution was identified. Information regarding listening to BBC Radio London on Sounds and following BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram was provided. Story ideas can be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright for this content is held by BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites and provides information on its approach to external linking.