Boy, two, survives fall from 11th-floor flat in Sengkang

His diaper reportedly caught on clothes rack, cushioning fall; said to be in stable condition

A two-year-old boy fell 11 storeys from a unit at Block 182A Rivervale Crescent (left) on Sunday. Residents (above) found him lying on a grass patch at the foot of the block. His injuries were mainly to the left side of his body, says general practit
A two-year-old boy fell 11 storeys from a unit at Block 182A Rivervale Crescent (above) on Sunday. Residents found him lying on a grass patch at the foot of the block. His injuries were mainly to the left side of his body, says general practitioner Lenny Wan, who rushed to the scene to help. PHOTO: JEREMY KWAN, FACEBOOK/LEEHWA

A two-year-old boy who survived an 11-storey fall from a Sengkang Housing Board block on Sunday morning was possibly saved by his diaper. It reportedly caught on a clothes rack on his way down, breaking his fall.

The boy was found by residents lying on a grass patch at the foot of Block 182A Rivervale Crescent at around 10am.

He was rushed to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), where he was reported to be in stable condition on Sunday night. When contacted yesterday for updates on the boy, KKH said it does not have permission to share any information on the patient.

The Straits Times understands that the toddler was standing on a stool and fell from the window of an 11th-storey flat, sustaining severe injuries.

A man believed to be the boy's father declined to comment when approached outside of their family home yesterday afternoon.

Neighbours and a doctor who rushed to the scene said the toddler was lucky to be alive.

Dr Lenny Wan, a general practitioner at Rivervale Crescent Medical Centre located at the foot of the block, said he was on duty on Sunday morning when a resident rushed into the clinic asking for help.

A two-year-old boy fell 11 storeys from a unit at Block 182A Rivervale Crescent on Sunday. Residents (above) found him lying on a grass patch at the foot of the block. His injuries were mainly to the left side of his body, says general practitioner Lenny Wan, who rushed to the scene to help. PHOTO: JEREMY KWAN, FACEBOOK/LEEHWA

Dr Wan told The Straits Times that the boy was conscious and crying when he arrived, with injuries mainly to the left side of the body.

"There was a gaping wound on his left arm, the bone was probably fractured in more than one place, and the area around his left eye was also bleeding."

After assessing the injuries, Dr Wan, 42, helped paramedics to keep the boy's neck stable when they arrived about five minutes later.

"I am surprised the injuries weren't worse... children generally have more padding and can survive falls better than adults," said Dr Wan, who added that the boy's diapers were torn.

Shin Min Daily News quoted an eyewitness as saying that the boy's diaper had caught on a fourth-floor unit's clothes rack on the way down, breaking his fall.

The boy's mother told Shin Min that the incident happened as the window was not closed.

Neighbours described the couple, who are in their 20s, as friendly but reserved.

Clinic supervisor Velayuthan Agamuthu, who lives on the fourth floor and often greets the family at the void deck, said he was having breakfast at a nearby coffee shop on Sunday morning when he heard that someone had fallen from the block.

"When I saw the boy, I was shocked. He was crying, and it looked like his arm was dislocated, you could see bone," said Mr Velayuthan, 53.

"The parents came down after the ambulance left. They didn't know what had happened. I asked the father why he didn't put the (window) grille. He said they have one, but they forgot to close the kitchen window," he said.

"I saw the father again today, who said the boy is still in ICU (intensive care unit) but okay. I am glad he is still fighting for his life - he is a very lucky boy."

A neighbour, who lives two units away from the family, said the couple and their son moved in about a year ago, and were quiet neighbours.

"They are a good family, the boy sometimes comes to my gate and plays," said Mr David James.

"They are being judged very harshly online, but I am sure the parents are already suffering," said the 40-year-old, who is unemployed.

  • Additional reporting by Goh Yan Han

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 27, 2018, with the headline Boy, two, survives fall from 11th-floor flat in Sengkang. Subscribe