Ainsley Harriott has revealed he is considering legal action against the RHS Chelsea Flower Show after his sister Jacqueline nearly drowned in a water feature.
The dramatic scenes were captured in photos from the event in May, when Ainsley’s sister fell into a deep water feature running along a path in one of the exhibits.
the cook, 65, helped his sister pull out, who coughed up waterbefore updating fans later to let them know that Jacqueline was doing well after the ordeal.
Ainsley admitted he is considering legal action against the organizers after questioning the health and safety of the event.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘Health and safety was not particularly great. They should have tied it [the show pond] from.
“It was about six feet deep—quite a drop once you hit the water.”
An RHS spokesperson said: ‘We take health and safety very seriously. For the rest of the show we made the decision to close the garden to visitors.’
Jacqueline had fallen into the water feature on the first day of the event and was taken to hospital by paramedics for a checkup after ‘coughing up a lot of water’.
In photos from the event, she was seen lying on her side after getting out, with Ainsley grooming her while others made sure she was okay.
He later informed fans by tweeting, “I want to say a big thank you to everyone who helped my sister when she fell at the Chelsea Flower Show this morning. She’s fine and all is well xx.’
A guest at the event told The Sun: ‘The garden was full of many people and I think the woman must have fallen into the pond or tripped over it and ended up in the water.
“I think she almost drowned. She was pulled out by Ainsley Harriott and some other celebrities before they laid her on the floor. She coughed up a lot of water.’
The bosses of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show told Metro.co.uk in a statement at the time that they would investigate the incident.
It read: ‘We are investigating an incident that occurred today in a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“The guest was promptly attended to by medical professionals on site and we are pleased to say that he is now home.”
Do you have a story?
If you have any celebrity story, video or photos, please contact the metro.co.uk animation team by emailing [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or visiting our Submit things page – we’d love to hear from you.
LAKE : Ainsley Harriott shares update on sister after saving her from drowning at Chelsea Flower Show
