Tate Modern boy, 6, suffered brain bleed and has a broken back, legs and arms after being ‘hurled off 10th floor’ as teen, 17, appears in court
THE six-year-old boy allegedly thrown 100ft from the 10th floor of Tate Modern has been left with a broken back, legs and arms, a court heard today.
A 17-year-old boy, who appeared in court with a black eye this morning, sobbed as details of the French child's horrific injuries were revealed.
The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested at the art gallery on Sunday and appeared before Bromley Youth Court on charges of attempted murder.
Wearing a prison-issue grey jumper, the teenager appeared confused and tearful as he spoke only to confirm his name, age and British nationality.
Today the court heard the six-year-old boy suffered a deep bleed on the brain as well as fractures to his spine, legs and arms after falling from the viewing platform and landing on the fifth-floor roof.
Witnesses had previously claimed the child's desperate mum tried to jump over the rail to rescue him, screaming "my son, my son".
One unnamed bystander also claimed the suspect was punched by someone who had witnessed the boy's terrifying fall.
Sian Morgan, prosecuting, told the court the injured boy's family had been “enjoying the views” from the viewing platform when the lad moved a “couple of feet” from his parents.
She said the 17-year-old boy then grabbed the child, throwing him over the edge in a "very swift" movement.
She added: “He suffered very serious injuries and is currently in hospital. This includes a deep bleed to his brain and fractures to his spine, legs and arms.”
The teen was today returned to youth detention in a white van.
He is expected to enter his plea at the Old Bailey on August 8.
The little boy today remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Scotland Yard has said there is no link between the suspect and the victim.
A MOTHER'S SCREAMS
Witnesses visiting the popular attraction on Sunday claimed the suspect had been following families around moments before the horror incident.
Administration worker Nancy Barnfield, 47, said: "He had his hands behind his back the whole time, his back to the wall, just watching people. We walked away from him then immediately when he was out of sight a woman was screaming 'My son, my son' and people were grabbing him."
Mark Welte, a San Francisco writer, said he had heard "primal screams", adding: "The child's mother then tried to climb the rail. I restrained her and pulled her back."
Mothers desperately grabbed their own children as chaotic scenes unfolded at the popular tourist attraction.
Fellow witness Olga Malehevska was on the viewing platform with her four-year-old son when she saw the little boy falling and said it was "absolutely terrifying".
She said she suddenly heard a noise, with people starting to shout ";Oh my God, the boy dropped".
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A spokesman for Tate Modern said yesterday that the gallery was open but the viewing platform, part of the Tate’s £260million Blavatnik extension, was shut out of respect.
Det Chief Insp John Massey said: “We’re providing around-the-clock support to the little boy’s family as they wait for more news on his condition.
“At the moment, this is being treated as an isolated event with no distinct or apparent motive.
“There is no link between the victim and male arrested.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 0208 721 4868 or quoting CAD 4660/4August.
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