A young woman who died falling from the Whispering Gallery of St Paul’s Cathedral last week has been remembered by her family as “selfless and kind” person “for whom the world was a bad place to live in.”
Lidia Dragescu, 23, died after falling 30 metres from the balcony inside the cathedral last Wednesday morning.
Staff and paramedics rushed to the scene to try to revive Ms Dragescu, from Romford in Essex, however she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her family have paid tribute to “an outstanding student and a talented figure skater” in a statement via City of London Police.
“Our daughter and sister was the most beautiful person in the world. Her heart was pure and kind, a soul from another world.
“Beautiful, intelligent and kind. She would always help me, not allowing me to do any difficult chores.
“Her love for us was beyond measure, she was selfless and kind. Everything that she had she shared with us, always putting us first. We love her and will always love her.”
The cathedral was closed for the rest of the day on Wednesday and police confirmed the incident was being treated as non-suspicious.
A spokesperson for St Paul’s said the cathedral community was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.
“Although robust procedures for emergency situations are in place at St Paul’s and today’s response bore that out, it does not lessen the shock we feel as a close community, especially for those of us who witnessed and responded to this incident.
“We hold also in our thoughts those visitors within the cathedral at the time.
“We think and pray especially at this time for the woman who died, and for all those who were close to her and who loved and cared for her.”
