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2-year-old boy survives fall from 7th floor apartment

15 Comments

A two-year-old boy survived a fall from the seventh floor of an apartment building in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, on Thursday.

Police said a male resident of a 13-story condo in the Tsukuda-cho district called 110 at around 10:45 a.m., reporting that a child had fallen from the building.

According to police reports, a witness noticed a wailing boy hanging on to the balcony railing of a 7th-floor apartment, Sankei Shimbun reported. The child then fell onto the plastic roof of a bicycle parking space, then bounced off it before hitting the ground.

Police said the boy was taken to the hospital to be treated for a suspected fracture in the hip and left thigh.

Police said there is a 70-cm-high air conditioning unit on the balcony of the apartment and believe the boy climbed up on that and somehow went over the railing.

Police said the boy’s parents were inside watching TV at the time and said they didn’t hear anything.

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15 Comments
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Why balconies in Japan comply with such stupid codes?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@kokuzi

"Here is the only question that matters:"

Says who?

Who are you to decide this the crux of the question?

Were you there?

Did you actually see what happened?

I'll spare you the troubles: you don't have a clue.

Just like everyone else reading this paper.

"Q: Is is acceptable to allow a 2-year-old to play alone on an open balcony that has an AC unit

that could potentially be climbed on, which would put the child's life in danger?

A: No."

You're good at speculating; now show me your evidence of the facts, as you've stated them to have occurred.

You've got NONE. Zilch, Niet, Nada, Rien.

"I've reached my 5-minutes a day limit for Japan Today,

so don't waste your time commenting."

Well I haven't reached mine yet.

Too bad enne?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

"Parents are full responsable for their kids, no matter there are not EXCUSES..

You will realize it when you will have kids.."

Yet, you did not ask my questions.

Lots of hot air though....

What's the definition of full responsibility?

"Stop playing the "smart french fry guy"..

I'm much smarter than that.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Here is the only question that matters:

Q: Is is acceptable to allow a 2-year-old to play alone on an open balcony that has an AC unit

that could potentially be climbed on, which would put the child's life in danger?

How do you know the child was allowed to play on the balcony?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@Peeping_Tom

Your questions have nothing to do with this incident.

Here is the only question that matters:

Q: Is is acceptable to allow a 2-year-old to play alone on an open balcony that has an AC unit

that could potentially be climbed on, which would put the child's life in danger?

A: No.

I've reached my 5-minutes a day limit for Japan Today,

so don't waste your time commenting.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@Peeping_Tom

you nailed it

1 ( +4 / -3 )

"Root cause: boy’s parents were inside watching TV= negligence by parents to keep an eye out on kids."

I'm not a parent (yet); however, could you please enlighten moi:

1) Are parents not allowed to watch TV just because they have kids; &

2) If the flat has more than one room, are parents supposed/expected to move the telly to the bedroom so that they can keep a 24/7 watch?

3) Are there ANY parents who keep a 24/7 vigil over their kids?

4) Are parents allowed to sleep (ever)?

I would appreciate a response; if not for my "enrichment" then for all the parents right here on JT.

Merci beaucoup.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

and move to an apartment with the aircon suspended on the ceiling.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

That’s one lucky kid, parents should now go out and buy a lotto ticket and thank their lucky stars.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Root cause: boy’s parents were inside watching TV= negligence by parents to keep an eye out on kids.

This kid was lucky it wasn't worse like a broken spine or neck.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

The child then fell onto the plastic roof of a bicycle parking space, then bounced off it before hitting the ground

The plastic roof no doubt has saved the child.

Police said the boy’s parents were inside watching TV at the time and said they didn’t hear anything.

Definitely negligence, how can they allow this happened to a 2 year old child? They should take proper care of him.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Scary stuff! I bet he doesn’t do that again

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Most high apartments have the air cons mounted from the ceiling.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

This is the problem with Japanese apartments, almost all of them have an AC unit on the balcony which is the perfect stepping stone for a toddler. Short of moving out or not having AC its impossible to child proof those spaces in a rental unit and the child locks on the doors are a joke. A major factor in our decision to move out of our apartment when my son was 2 was fear of something like this happening.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

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