A boy who was thrown from the 10th floor of the Tate Modern in London has been able to celebrate his birthday with other children for the first since the attack.
The French boy, who was aged six at the time, suffered life-changing injuries in the attack by teenager Jonty Bravery in August 2019. In an update on his recovery, his parents said he had been able to invite classmates and a friend from their former neighbourhood to celebrate the day.
“They had a great afternoon together, despite their differences in mobility!” they said in a post on a GoFundMe page. “It was exhausting for us, but it was a step closer to a classic life, and it’s worth it.”
The boy, who has not been identified, is now able to stand more upright after strengthening his back and has regained movement in his left ankle.
“He has made enough progress in his right ankle for his doctor to decide to remove the splint from the right foot,” his family added. “Our son, therefore, only has two splints left, on the left foot and on the left hand. Little by little, his armour is disappearing!”
He is also taking swimming lessons, with the support of a specialised educator, having been able to swim before the attack.
“He still can’t put his head under water because of his swallowing difficulties. Our son has to start all over again from the beginning but that doesn’t scare him!” they said.
Earlier this week, he made a first attempt to return to the school canteen and was “very happy” despite his sensitivity to noise.
A fundraiser for his treatment and rehabilitation – which had an original goal of €200,000 – has raised more than €359,300.
In their statement, the family – who refer to the boy as “our little knight” – lamented the struggle they had faced in the last three years but thanked those who had offered support.
“Some periods are so difficult. Sadness and discouragement would sometimes take hold of us, but we must hold on and focus on all the progress made,” they said.
“Thank you so much for continuing to think of our little knight and for encouraging us.”
The boy suffered a bleed to the brain and fractures to his spine after falling 100ft from the viewing platform in the attack. Bravery, who is autistic, was jailed for at least 15 years for attempted murder in 2020.
