A 5-year-old boy experienced a dramatic fall from a fifth-story window at the Sheepshead Bay Houses in Brooklyn yesterday. The child, while attempting to retrieve his toys, opened a window and fell onto a grassy area below. He was rushed to Maimonides Hospital for treatment and was reportedly conscious and alert following the fall. Authorities have stated that the boy is now in surgery after scans indicated bleeding on the brain, as reported by ABC7NY.
According to CBS News New York, Mballou Camara, the mother of the child, had earlier removed an air-conditioning unit from the bedroom window and had yet to call maintenance to replace the window guard. Amidst the incident, Good Samaritans Vlad Parts and his wife, Jennifer, tended to the child, waiting with him until the emergency services arrived. Overcome with emotion, Camara was described as frantic by neighbors, screaming as she held her child, uncertain of what to do next.
The child's fall was broken by the rain-soaked grass, potentially lessening the severity of the impact. The boy sustained a broken arm and leg due to the plunge. "He's OK he just has a broken arm. He's alright though, he's talking to his mom," a neighbor shared in an interview with ABC7NY. Despite serious injuries including a brain bleed, Camara reported that her son responded well to surgery, although further operations will be necessary to address the trauma to his skull.
While the mother was preparing to take a bath, her older sons, ages 13 and 12, notified her of their brother's fall, explained by a resident recounting the statements of a visiting nurse who witnessed the aftermath. With an outpouring of support from the community, the mother remains steadfast by her son's hospital bedside, alongside her two other sons, according to CBS News New York. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has issued a statement claiming an investigation into the incident is underway and will provide assistance to the family as needed. Meanwhile, the New York City Department of Health is looking into the report of the missing window guards as police rule out any criminality in the occurrence.
