'My sister was electrocuted in St James's Park'

A woman is taking legal action after she was electrocuted in a central London park, putting her in intensive care and leaving her with memory problems.

"When she woke up [in hospital] she was absolutely a different person, that wasn't my sister," Snezana Grigorjeva says.

Latvian national Anastasija Grigorjeva was visiting her sister in London in July, when Snezana says the 21-year-old's leg fell through the grate of a ground-level spotlight and touched a live electrical wire.

Royal Parks, which is responsible for St James's Park where the accident happened, said the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was informed and no further action was taken following an investigation.

It added that the park "provides a safe environment for all".

Snezana, 27, who lives in London, says they were out sightseeing with her partner and a friend when it happened.

"We went from Sloane Square to Buckingham Palace and took some pictures there and then Big Ben and took some more pictures," Snezana told BBC London.

They then made their way to Trafalgar Square but decided to shelter in a bandstand in St James's Park when it started raining.

Snezana says when they saw the spotlight, designed to illuminate the park at night, they thought it would be the "best place to take pictures" as it was bright.

Snezana says shen then turned her head and saw her lying on the ground with her leg stuck in the grate.

"My first thought was she broke her leg," she says. "But she was too quiet. She wasn't making any noises, she wasn't crying - she didn't even look scared."

Snezana says when she went to lift Anastasija under the armpits, she felt a "tingly feeling in my hands".

When the police arrived, officers used a defibrillator on Anastasija while the other three were asked what had happened.

"She wasn't breathing, she was blue, and we had no idea if she was alive or was she dead," Snezana says.

Her sister was taken to St Thomas' Hospital where she was in intensive care for four days.

When Anastasija eventually woke up, her sister says she had changed, experiencing outbursts of anger and behaving more impulsively.

"Her heart stopped for a pretty long time and she had no oxygen to her brain - so basically she got a brain injury," she explains.

Anastasija was discharged from hospital after nearly a month and went home to Latvia to continue her recovery.

Snezana says her sister suffered nerve damage to her foot and still deals with memory loss. She cannot remember the accident.

"She cannot do any of her jobs. She had three jobs and now none because it is too hard for her," Snezana says.

Magdalena Knez, of Osbornes Law, is representing Anastasija in a civil case brought against Royal Parks.

She says her client now relies on her parents, suffers memory and mood issues, and has become alienated from her friends.

Ms Knez says Royal Parks has a responsibility to make sure its sites are safe for users.

A Royal Parks spokesperson said: "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 said the incident was "thoroughly investigated" and while it ensured that action was taken to "deal with the ongoing risk", it had seen no grounds for a prosecution.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]