Boy suffers intracranial bleeding after falling from window while left home alone

A four- to five-year-old boy fell from a kitchen window and suffered intracranial bleeding after feeling scared while left alone at home.

The incident led to the arrest of his mother and an Indonesian domestic helper, while the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) is providing support to the family.

The Judiciary Police (PJ) revealed the case at a press conference on Friday.

PJ spokesman Ho Wai Lok, while declining to disclose the boy’s exact age or the floor from which he fell, stated that the boy was found injured and lying on the road in front of a residential building on Rua do Gamboa on Tuesday afternoon.

The minor, who requires hospitalization, was diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhage.

According to the police, this was the third time the boy had been left home alone, with the initial instance occurring on August 17.

On the morning of the incident, the boy’s parents took their older son out, leaving him at home with the maid. At noon, the maid called the boy’s parents and, after receiving their permission, gave him a tablet computer and locked the door before leaving, leaving him alone at home.

Despite his efforts to open the apartment door using tools, the boy, frightened and in tears, was unable to escape. In his distress, he then went into the kitchen and tragically fell out of a window, landing on the street below.

The PJ stated that, according to the forensic pathologist’s report, the boy’s injuries were consistent with a fall from a height. Following the investigation, his mother and the Indonesian domestic helper were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) after Friday’s press conference on charges of abandonment and neglect.

In the legal system, according to the Criminal Code, if a direct relative commits such a crime, the sentence begins at one year of imprisonment and can increase to a maximum of two years.

In response to the tragic incident, IAS president Wilson Hon emphasized at a public event that protecting children requires a collaborative effort between the government and parents.

He urged against leaving children home alone, highlighting that since the implementation of the Law on Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence in 2016, society has become increasingly aware of child safety issues, leading to significant improvements.

However, he cautioned that accidents can still occur when young children are left unsupervised. To further enhance child safety, he recommended that families take proactive measures to improve home safety.

The president described the accident as a warning, urging family members to prioritize open communication and remain vigilant, even when caregivers are away for a short period.

He advised them to seek alternative supervision for their children rather than leaving them home alone, emphasizing that children’s safety should always come first.

Commenting on this specific case, Hon noted that the boy’s family was not initially under the bureau’s oversight.

However, following the incident, bureau staff reached out directly to the family to address matters related to the boy’s future care and support.