5-year-old boy survives fall from 8th floor apartment

Monday 26th October, 09:16 AM JST

NAGOYA —

A 5-year-old boy fell from the balcony of his family’s 8th-floor apartment on Sunday, plummeting 20 meters to the roof of the covered parking area below, then bouncing off on to the ground. He suffered only minor injuries, police said.

The boy was playing on the balcony with his 3-year-old brother while his mother was inside. The mother told police she saw the boy holding onto the outside edge of the 1.2-meter-high railing when he lost his grip and fell. Police say the roof of the parking area absorbed most the shock of the fall, saving the boy from death.

“This is really a miracle,” an officer said. “It would have been disastrous had he been off by only a meter.”

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

TSRnow at 11:52 AM JST - 26th October

I agree. Stories like these are repeated too many times.

When will they ever learn?
dr_jones at 11:54 AM JST - 26th October

Children are quite soft and rubber-like. they usually (but not always) bounce off smoothly which prevents serious damage!

but joke aside ;) ... lucky kid that!
Tommygun at 12:37 PM JST - 26th October

The kid was lucky. Dumbass move by the mother to let a 3 and 5 year old play on a balcony. You'd think with all these reports some of this would get through to parents who leave the balcony doors unlocked.
LFRAgain at 12:39 PM JST - 26th October

Wow, Now that's some luck. Glad the little fella didn't get hurt too badly. Now perhaps the parents will rethink allowing their kids ready access to a 20-meter free-fall.
Disillusioned at 01:25 PM JST - 26th October

she saw the boy holding onto the outside edge of the 1.2-meter-high railing when he lost his grip and fell.

Well, then. No one can make a comment about the kids being unsupervised, can they? What's the bet there was a step ladder on the balcony too? Really, some people are just so stupid I can't express my disappointment in words.
spudman at 02:40 PM JST - 26th October

hell my 6 year old son can climb over anything if he sets his mind to it, no step ladder just a boy being a boy. High rise apartments really aren't good places for children to live.
kirakira25 at 06:23 PM JST - 26th October

My 5 and 3 year old can open the doors themselves now and get out onto the balcony. Fortunately the wall is quite high so they can`t climb up over it, but I have taught them never to climb up, and never to go out on the balcony without me.
Sammi33 at 06:58 PM JST - 26th October

seriously. I teach 2-3 year olds 5 mornings a week and if they even start to climb on a chair or table I make sure they know that it is wrong, dangerous, and not to be repeated unless they want to sit on the floor for time-out. Knowingly letting your 3 and 5 year old play on an 8th floor balcony should be treated as child endangerment and the mother should be arrested.
sharky1 at 09:33 PM JST - 26th October

Japanese television had more details about the boy having his fall broken by an antenna, laundry clothes, and a roof before hitting the ground. He then walked back up to his apartment. Too many of these accidents in Japan. Definitely need to implement safety into these balconies. I think the property owners are responsible for the safe design of their buildings, and parents are responsible for properly supervising their children and for adding additional safety measures like garden netting to keep the kids from going over the side.
englishteacher at 09:50 PM JST - 26th October

STUPID MOM! PERIOD.
Yelnats at 12:26 PM JST - 27th October

...#

parents who leave the balcony doors unlocked. #

Little kids can open those cheapo locks
eigonosensei at 04:29 PM JST - 29th October

"his fall broken by an antenna, laundry clothes, and a roof before hitting the ground"

A Japanese Jackie Chan in the making? ^ ^

I'm glad the boy is alright. Mom needs to put down the highball and keep her lookin' balls on her kid(s).
anderstungtwist at 09:25 PM JST - 29th October

All buildings should have safety nets!!!!
Blue_Tiger at 08:03 PM JST - 30th October

Agree, horsefella and englishteacher - pathetic and stupid. What was Mom doing? And why were the children not inside with her? So what if children can climb? Teach them the danger of climbing around a balcony on the high floors of an apartment...
gogogo at 12:09 AM JST - 31st October

The mother told police she saw the boy holding onto the outside edge of the 1.2-meter-high railing when he lost his grip and fell.

What sort of stupid parent allowed that to happen!?