A four-year-old boy fell to his death from the 12th floor of an apartment building in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on Friday afternoon.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m. Kyodo News quoted police as saying the boy’s mother called 119 and said her son had fallen from their apartment balcony. The mother, who was alone with her son in the apartment, said she thought he was in one of the rooms, police said.
Police said it appears the boy climbed up over the one-meter balcony railing and fell. He crashed into a three-meter-deep water storage tank which was full. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at around 7 p.m.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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tamanegi
I can't believe this keeps happening. RIP little one.
Lord Dartmouth
Oh no...
Noemi Yoshimura
Before anyone would say you can't leave a 4 year old alone didn't spend extended time with a toddler alone... Guess what you need to use the bathroom time to time or turn and cook meal for the rest of the family....
I am pretty sure no parents would risk their child life. It's an awful accident. The solution would be is improved building code.
NOMINATION
I agree but also think twice about living somewhere that may be a safety hazard for your young children. Of course not everyone has that option if housing is limited.
piskian
Why are young families forced to live in high rise buildings,when unoccupied properties are unclaimed and available across Japan?
Lindsay
Let’s hope it wax an accident and not the result of carelessly leaving table and chairs on the balcony. Let’s also hope there is nothing more sinister behind the child’s death.
Nibek32
Sounds like you don’t live in Japan based on your comment.
All these unoccupied and cheap properties are in rural areas where there are also pretty much zero jobs. Those places are not options for young working families.
Scipio
Parents, watch your children.
Mr Kipling
If you have kids don't live in a sky box...simple.
Mr Kipling
Do people living in high rises give their children knives, razor blades and bottles of bleach to play with?
Hopefully no, but they choose to live in an obviously dangerous home in the sky.
If living in a safe place is "beyond your means" then save up before reproducing.... Simple.
Lionel Lyyn
If the balcony is a safety hazard why on earth you leave your kid unattended... Call me paranoid, but I never let the balcony door open with kids unless I'm there to watch them.
Kumagaijin
Reminds me of what happened to Eric Clapton's son. He was also 4, but fell 53 stories. Tears in Heaven was written by Clapton following the accident. Sad this keeps happening.
sir_bentley28
The fact that people downvoted you for your honest and sincere comment says alot! Your comment was just an informative reminder for parents to keep an eye on your children to prevent tragedies such as this, yet there are some who don't agree with you? Astounding observation, I say!