Child dies in fourth-floor fall at Sharjah hotel

Investigation under way as five-year-old died at Raddison Blu in Sharjah.

SHARJAH // A five-year-old boy fell to his death from the fourth floor of a hotel in Sharjah.

The accident happened at the Radisson Blu Hotel at about 9am on Friday. Police were called to the scene and the boy was taken to Kuwait Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The boy and his family, including a three-year-old brother, were on holiday in the emirate from Kazakhstan.

A police spokesman at Heera Police confirmed that the boy had died and said an inquiry into the incident was under way.

Hotel management said in a statement: "The hotel and regional management have immediately informed the authorities, and the case is under investigation.

"Our deepest sympathy and condolences go to the boy's parents and family."

It added that it would extend support to the authorities investigating the boy's death.

There has been a spate of fatal falls in Sharjah recently but this is believed to be the first from a hotel.

In November last year at least four children fell to their deaths from buildings in Sharjah. In a more recent incident, a four-year-old Emirati boy died when he fell from the Al Sundos Tower in Al Mamzar.

The problem has prompted authorities in the emirate to start devising policies to increase safety in high-rise buildings.

Sharjah Municipality has issued new regulations for windows and balconies. Windows in all new buildings must be at least 1.2 metres off the ground and in older properties must have devices to prevent them from opening wider than 10 centimetres.

Using verandas and balconies for storage has also been banned.