In a heart-wrenching incident, a 7-year-old boy lost his life after tumbling from the 21st-floor balcony of the Hampshire House complex in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The tragedy occurred on Anderson Avenue around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Immediately following the accident, he was rushed to the Hackensack University Medical Center, as reported by ABC News. However, despite medical intervention, he was pronounced dead.
The Bergen County Prosecutors Office has stepped in to investigate. Their primary focus is to determine if this was a tragic accident. “We are deeply saddened by the incident and are making every effort to piece together the events leading up to it,” commented a spokesman from the Prosecutor’s Office.
In the aftermath of the incident, Fort Lee police swiftly cordoned off the complex’s rear parking area, Pix11 noted. The reason for the boy’s fall and additional details surrounding the unfortunate event remain undisclosed.
Recent Similar Tragedies
This isn’t an isolated incident. The city has witnessed a string of such tragic events over recent months. In July, a 3-year-old girl from Harlem faced a life-threatening situation after plummeting from her 6th-floor residence. Strikingly, her family’s realization of the accident was seemingly delayed. Merely days after this, a 4-year-old boy from Brooklyn met with a fatal accident, falling from his 4th-floor dwelling.
However, not all such incidents end in tragedy. Earlier in June, in what can be termed a miraculous escape, a 4-year-old girl survived a fall from a 3rd-floor window in Brooklyn.
Safety Precautions Emphasized Amid Rising Temperatures
As summer approaches and temperatures soar, the frequency of such accidents tends to spike. The city’s residents, in an attempt to cool their homes, often open windows, inadvertently creating a potential hazard for young children.
City authorities have issued several safety guidelines and precautions for residents to follow:
- Regularly inspect window guards; screens or covers aren’t adequate replacements.
- Avoid placing climbable objects like beds or chairs near windows.
- Ensure that kids stay away from balconies, terraces, and other elevated areas unless supervised by an adult. Always keep such areas securely locked.
- Children should never be allowed near elevator shafts, fire escapes, or unguarded windows, even in building hallways.
- If you come across unguarded hallway windows, authorities urge you to promptly report it by calling 311.
Residents are urged to be vigilant and prioritize safety, especially during the warmer months.