Woman dies inside St Paul’s Cathedral after falling from Whispering Gallery
Tourists watched on in horror as the woman plunged from the attraction at around 10.30am today as cops and paramedics desperately battled to save her
A WOMAN died after falling from St Paul's Whispering Gallery this morning.
She was pronounced dead after plunging from the tourist attraction in front of shocked visitors just after 10.30am.
City of London Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
A spokesman added: "St Paul's Cathedral is currently closed and it is due to remain closed for the rest of the afternoon after a woman fell from inside the building and died."
Cops and medics were scrambled to the scene, arriving in minutes, but were unable to save the woman.
A statement on the cathedral website said: "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.
"The Cathedral will remain closed for the rest of the day and the Annual National Service for Seafarers at 5pm has been cancelled.
"We will open as normal tomorrow, beginning with morning prayer at 7.30am."
The Whispering Gallery is in the famous dome of the London landmark - 30 metres from the cathedral floor - and attracts visitors from all over the world.
It was given its name due to the fact people can whisper against its walls and they can be heard on the opposite side.
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
Spokesperson
The iconic cathedral was built in the 17th Century to designs made by Sir Christopher Wren.
He is credited with being the architect who rebuilt London after the Great Fire of London in 1666.
Such is its symbolic importance to the capital, skyscrapers built in the city must not block sight of St Paul's from certain vantage points in the city.
Brave firefighters were tasked with protecting the building from Nazi firebombs during the Blitz — which they managed to do against all odds and despite all the surrounding structures being razed.
Until the late 20th Century and the construction of the BT Tower, St Paul's was the tallest building in the London skyline.
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