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Toddler critically injured in fall from block of flats in London

Residents believe child may have fallen from eighth floor

Emily Goddard
Tuesday 28 July 2020 16:49 BST
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(PA)

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A toddler is in a critical condition in a specialist hospital after falling from a block of flats in east London.

Police were called to East India Dock Road in Poplar to reports that the boy had “fallen from height” on Monday evening.

Residents from the flats believe the child may have fallen from the eighth floor.

The Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday that the child had been transferred to a specialist hospital.

“His condition at this time is believed to be critical but stable,” the force added.

A resident from the block of flats, who requested to remain anonymous, said: “I saw people outside with the child [after it happened].

“They were trying to help but they did not know what to do.”

A security guard at the building, who also did not give his name, said he was “very upset” by the incident, and added that the family of the toddler “are very nice people and it is just horrible”.

Other residents from the block said they already had concerns about the windows, which can open wide on some settings, including one that is big enough to allow a person to get through.

Lydia Best, 50, who lives on the eighth floor, said: “I am very scared about the windows. They can open wide.

“I only ever open my windows a little bit, even when it is hot.”

Ranjit Naik, 43, a father of two, said the windows in the flats are “something I worry about”.

He said he keeps the window keys in the locks so his children, aged four and nine, cannot get at them.

No arrests have been made following the incident.

Witnesses or anyone with footage have been asked to contact the Met, quoting reference CAD 6419/27 July.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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