Boy thrown from Tate Modern balcony 'due to restart school'

Family said he was 'happy to go' after a successful trial

Emergency crews attending a scene at the Tate Modern art gallery, London, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. London police say a teenager was arrested after a child "fell from height" at the Tate Modern art gallery. The Metropolitan Police Service said on Twitter that the child was taken to a hospital in an air ambulance, adding "We await an update on his condition." (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
Powered by automated translation

A young boy who suffered life-changing injuries when he was thrown from a balcony at the Tate Modern art gallery is due to return to school, his family has said.

The boy, aged 6 at the time of the 30 metre fall in August 2019, had been visiting London from France.

His family said he would attend two mornings a week and was "happy to go" during a successful trial.

Jonty Bravery, aged 17, when he threw the boy, was convicted of attempted murder and jailed for 15 years in 2020.

During Bravery's sentencing, the court heard the boy would require round-the-clock care until at least 2022.

The youngster suffered a bleed on the brain and fractures to his spine.

In a statement on a fundraising page for the boy, his parents said they have been forced to move to a ground-floor property because their son was unable to climb stairs.

They also revealed the progress he was making as they "impatiently await" the new school year.

"He was able to put his feet in the water at the beach and do water activities twice with the rehabilitation therapist who takes care of adapted physical activities," they said.

"On our side, we are currently trying to train him to find back the reflexes to catch a ball with both hands, without too much success for the moment.

"But our son loves it and he is having a lot of fun. We also continue other exercises that can stimulate his cognitive and motor skills.

"As for walking, he continues to progress but very slowly, and this period is a bit complicated.

"He seems to be doing well and mastering at times but he can actually fall at any time because he has not found back his balance yet."

More than £275,000 has been raised towards his care.

Updated: August 18, 2021, 8:41 PM