French toddler falls from 9th floor and survives

The boy was recovering in hospital this week after the death-defying drop from an apartment in the city of Saint-Etienne in central France.

According to reports in French media the toddler's mum had popped out to the shops leaving the boy by himself in front of the telly. 

While she was out, he climbed onto the railing of the balcony via a stack of objects and fell, a witness told AFP.  

But luckily the 4-year-old landed in a bush at the foot of the apartment block, which absorbed some of the impact of the 25 meter fall.

Although he survived the fall, he was left badly hurt and emergency services rushed him to Saint-Etienne’s University Hospital where he was being treated on Thursday.

According to French media, he suffered a serious head injury and several broken bones, including to his legs, but he is not in a critical condition and will be able to walk again.

Authorities have opened up an investigation into what happened.

by Simone Flückiger