6-Year-Old girl falls to death from Ang Mo Kio HDB block

It was the saddest news we heard this Hari Raya - a 6-year-old girl, who was apparently alone at home, falls to death from building in Singapore.

Her heartbroken mother regrets not locking the windows before leaving the house or calling home to check on her daughter.

The tragedy occurred on the evening of 4 June 2019, at Block 637 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6.

The little child fell from the 11th floor of the HDB block. She had been left alone at home that afternoon, because her mum had to attend classes.

The mother recounted to Lianhe Wanbao, that she had enrolled in a three-year nursing diploma at Nanyang Polytechnic in April, hoping to find a better job and earn more for the family. 

The girl would usually be dropped off at childcare, but on that day, the centre was open for half a day only. Her brother was at a student care centre, and her father was at work.

After her classes ended at around 5pm that day, the mother rushed home. She found the kitchen windows open. But when she looked down, she found to her horror, paramedics surrounding her daughter. 

She rushed downstairs, but it was too late...

A lady called Leticia, who works as helper in the opposite block had apparently heard the girl cry about 2 hours before the fatal fall.

It seems, she was calling out “Daddy, daddy” while standing near the kitchen window.

"She was crying for about 10 minutes at about 3pm. I could see her from the kitchen," she told The Straits Times, and also added that the kitchen window grilles were open.

The child was heard crying for her father again, an hour later, and after 5 pm too.

The last time though, Leticia heard a loud thud, before the cries stopped.

The little girl was lying motionless on the ground by then.

According to Lianhe Wanbao, a half-opened umbrella was spotted next to the girl’s body.

There are speculations that the young girl might have used the umbrella to land on the ground like a parachute.

We at theAsianparent express our heartfelt condolences to the family of this little child, who went away too soon.

What are the precautions all parents should make to avoid this from ever happening to them?

Here are three crucial key points to look out for:

It is important to install safety grilles on all windows and balconies, regardless of which floor you live on, and remember to keep it closed and locked at all times.

You should also remove furniture away from the windows or anything which your child can use to stand on to help him or her climb up onto the window ledge.

If you have balconies, check the railing's gaps. Anything greater than four inches is a threat to your child's safety. A child as old as six can fit through a gap as small as six inches.

Experts warn against leaving your young child home alone even for a short period of time because as Dr Carol Balhetchet explains, “Within seconds, a three-year-old can do all sorts of things as they see the world with curiosity”.

If you need to run a few errands which won’t take you more than a few minutes, it’s wise to bring your child along with you, or ask a responsible adult such a neighbour, family member or friend to help keep an eye on your child for a while.

Also, caution all other caregivers of your child to watch your children at all times. Caregivers spend the most time with your children second to you – always tell them to never let your children go near the window or balcony.

If your child is old enough to understand simple instructions, you should make it a firm rule that he’s not allowed to open the window, or climb up the window at all times.

Explain the dangers of what can happen if they do so and if it helps, find educational videos online to teach them about this as well.

(Source: Lianhe Wanbao, The Straits Times)