Boy, 5, died after falling 150ft out of tower block window ‘pressing one button’

A five-year-old boy who died after falling more than 150ft from a tower block ‘opened a window by pressing just one button’ as his parents slept.

Police were called to Jacobs House New City Road, east London just before 6am yesterday to reports of a child having fallen from the 15th floor.

The boy has been named locally as Alam Makial, who was described as a ‘lovely boy’ and ‘very sweet’ by his aunt Maryam Hadafow.

She said: ‘He went in the kitchen and opened the window. He had got up before his parents to go to school. He was a lovely boy.’

Maryam said Alam fell from a window which can be opened fully by pressing a button on the inside, The Sun reports.

‘His mother had written emails about the windows and doors to the council five times and said, “this is not safe for my kids”,’ she said.

‘Alam’s father screamed for help shouting “My son, my son is dead”.’

The boy’s father was ‘inconsolable’ after the tragedy, with Ansert Davis, who lives in the same building, saying: ‘I just ran down and tried to speak to the dad but he’s inconsolable.’

He said other neighbours came out to help and the young boy’s mum was ‘distraught’.

Mr Davis added: ‘She came running around, took one look at the child and turned back shaking.

‘I keep seeing the image in my head. It’s so sad, I’ve got a grandkid about this age. Oh my God, it’s like seeing your own kids.’

Another resident, JJ, said the boy lived on the 15th floor. He said: ‘The paramedic was shaken up.

‘The paramedics were here about 6am, 6.10am maybe. They were here quickly.’

A mother-of-two who lives in the tower block told the Evening Standard: ‘We are in utter shock. We know the family. The parents are at the hospital. Other family members are in the flat.

‘Apparently, the boy was up early and then fell from the window. It was an accident but no one knows how it happened. People are looking for answers.’

The Metropolitan Police initially said the victim was six years old, but they have since corrected his age to five.

A spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 5.58am on Thursday, May 16 to reports of a child having fallen from height at New City Road, E13.

‘Officers, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended.

‘At the scene a five-year-old boy had fallen from an upper floor of an apartment block.

‘Despite the efforts of emergency services he sadly died at the scene. His family are aware and are being supported.

‘The death is being treated as unexpected and enquiries are underway to establish the full circumstances.’

A Newham Council spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply sorry to hear about this devastating incident, we extend our sincere condolences to all those affected.

‘We have staff at the location to provide reassurance to residents at this difficult time while we work with partners to establish the full facts.’

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 5.59am today to reports of a person fallen from height on New City Road, Plaistow.

‘We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance.

‘Our first paramedics arrived on scene in approximately four minutes.

‘Very sadly, a child was pronounced dead at the scene.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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