3-Year-Old toddler falls to death from 17th floor balcony

We just came across the saddest news. A three-year-old toddler fell to death from the balcony of her 17th floor apartment.

The tragedy occurred at around 7:10 am on 13 September 2018.

The incident happened in Kota Damansara, Malaysia. The little child was alone at home. Her parents had left their house at around 6 am to sell Nasi Lemak. Her 14-year-old sister had left home at 7 am to drop her seven-year-old sibling at a kindergarten nearby.

The toddler was fast asleep when her sister left the house.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zani Che Din has been quoted by the New Straits Times as saying, "The elder sister said she didn’t want to wake the victim up because she was having a fever. When she came home, she was told of the incident by a neighbour."

A plastic chair was seen on the balcony, which had no grills. It is believed that the child slipped from the chair and fell to her death.

“We believed that the victim used the plastic chair to climb over the existing balcony railings before she slipped and fell.

“The body has been sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital Forensic Unit for post mortem,” said Mohd Zani.

Some residents also said that the child may have tried to reach for the clothes which were hanging outside.

theAsianparent extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of this little child, who left the world too soon. May her soul rest in peace.

This is indeed a tragic case. Balcony falls can be critical and often result in broken bones, face and head trauma, and death. If you have a balcony at home, do follow these vital reminders to keep little children safe:

1. Do not let your child play in the balcony unattended.
2. Discourage them from climbing on the balcony.
3. Keep any objects that children can climb, like benches, tables, and chairs, away from the balcony area.
4. Discourage kids from dragging any light furniture close to the balcony.
5. Make sure that your balcony is fitted with grills. If not, your balcony door and windows should have child safety locks. Keep doors to balconies locked at all times. 
6. 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.
7. Teach your child about safety.
8. Conduct regular safety checks. Check railings and locks regularly to make sure they're still working properly. 
9. NEVER leave your child alone in the house – not even for a short while. Toddlers and young children can do all sorts of things when you're not around.
10. 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 near the window or balcony.

Source: NST

Also READ: Your child’s life depends on you: let’s stop high-rise building deaths now