‘We’ve Found Our Smiling Little Boy Back’: The 6-Year-Old Who Was Thrown From Tate Modern’s Balcony Is on the Mend

The six-year-old boy who was
thrown from the balcony of Tate Modern last summer is now able to
sit up and talk. The French tourist, who was visiting London with
his parents, was pushed from the gallery’s 10th floor viewing
platform by a teenager with a history of mental health
problems. 

The victim, who suffered
life-changing injuries, including to the brain and spine, is now
regaining strength, and his parents are optimistic about his
progress.

“After a slump, we’ve found our
smiling little boy back,” the child’s parents said, according to an
update on a fundraising page for his medical bills that was set up
by a concerned stranger.

The boy has now gained the
ability to sit up on his own, and he is able to feed himself soft
foods with his right hand. He is still working on the coordination
of his left side but is making small advances.

“As he has more strength, he
also has more breath and for that reason, we understand better what
he says and he manages to speak to us more,” the parents
say.

In a message to the fundraising page, which has
raised more than $245,000 for the child’s medical bills, the
parents say they are “very moved” that people are still thinking
about their boy during these difficult times. 

They add that the situation at
the hospital in France has recently become more complicated due to
increasing demand for beds, but they are grateful that so many
people are “still there” for the family. “Please stay safe and take
care of yourself and those you love,” they say.

The boy, who has not been named,
was visiting London with his family when he was attacked at Tate
Modern on August 4. He spent several weeks in an intensive care
unit before returning to France with his family for further
treatment.

In December, the teenager who
attacked the boy pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder. He
is due to be sentenced shortly. The teenager, who has autism,
reportedly told police he planned to hurt someone to highlight
the inadequacy of his mental healthcare, according to the BBC.

The post ‘We’ve Found Our Smiling Little Boy Back’: The
6-Year-Old Who Was Thrown From Tate Modern’s Balcony Is on the
Mend appeared first on artnet News.