5-year-old boy who fell 150 meters to his death ‘opened the window by pressing a button’

A five-year-old boy who fell 150 meters to his death from his family’s flat opened a window by pressing a button, it has been claimed.

Residents in Plaistow, Newham, yesterday spoke of their shock after the toddler fell from the Jacobs House tower block on Thursday morning. Police and ambulance crews rushed to the scene in east London, but the boy was pronounced dead a short time later.

Heartbroken witnesses described seeing the young man’s father, Makial, crying over him and shouting: “My boy, my boy”. It has now been claimed that the window from which the boy fell can be fully opened at the push of a button – raising serious questions about the safety of council-owned flats.

The five-year-old opened the window while his parents were sleeping, The Sun reported. The boy’s aunt, Maryan Hadafow, said his mother had raised issues with the council about the window several times before the tragedy because she feared it was unsafe. The distraught aunt said: “She went into the kitchen and opened the window. “His mother complained to Newham Council about that window. She sent five emails about how they were being opened and said they were not safe for her children, but no one did anything.” Neighbors are said to have lodged complaints with Newham Council about the windows.

Mrs Hadafow said her “lovely” grandson got up early to go to school on the morning he died. Another neighbor who lives on the 10th floor said he was also concerned about the “dangerous” windows when his child was young and had kept them locked. He added: “I feel so sorry for my neighbours. It’s a tragedy.”

A spokesman for Newham Council said: “The council is continuing to establish the facts of this tragic incident, until we have further information we cannot make any further comment. Our priority is to support the family at this devastating time.”

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We were called at 5.58am on Thursday 16 May to reports of a child who had fallen from a height on New City Road, E13. Officers from London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance attended. the efforts of the emergency services, unfortunately, he died on the spot. His family is aware and is being supported.”