"The way he hit the ground, you don't survive that,” a neighbor who witnessed the incident said
Credit: WCVB Channel 5 Boston/Youtube
NEED TO KNOW
- A child is alive and in stable condition after falling more than 60 feet from an apartment window
- Both of the child’s parents were reportedly home at the time of the incident
- The 4-year-old was awake and conscious immediately after the fall
A young child has left his Massachusetts community stunned after falling seven stories from an apartment window and surviving.
A 4-year-old boy fell from the seventh floor of the Lincoln Village Apartments just before 7:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 15, the Worcester Police Department and CBS News reported.
PEOPLE reached out to WPD, but did not immediately receive a response.
The child’s name was not made public, but police said when first responders arrived, the boy was “conscious and breathing” before being transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
A bed of mulch is said to have padded the child’s fall.
A neighbor, who only identified himself as Antonio, spoke with CBS News, telling the outlet he witnessed the fall in real time and immediately called 911.
"The way he hit the ground, you don't survive that,” the neighbor said. “That kid had guardian angels. Whether people are spiritual or not, that kid had something on his shoulder that said 'you're not today.' "
Police measured the fall as being 62 feet, ABC affiliate WCVB reported.
"It was an amazing, unique circumstance that definitely could have gone a different way," Sgt. Elise Miranda with the Worcester Police Department said, per CBS News.
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Miranda also shared tips for families who may leave windows open as the summer months and warmer temperatures draw near.
"As we start getting into the warmer weather, everyone is going to start opening up those windows, we're talking about air conditioning and things like that," Miranda said. "Couple things you're going to want to start looking at are the locks on the screens, making sure the screens are intact.”
Both of the child’s parents were home at the time of the incident, and no charges are expected to be filed, WCVB reported.
The Worcester Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit and Special Crimes Detectives are investigating, per a press release.
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