The family of a young boy who was thrown from a 10th-floor balcony at the Tate Modern seven years ago expressed their concern regarding what they perceive as a “sad step backwards” in his recovery following surgery.
The French child, who remains unnamed, was only six years old when he suffered severe injuries during an incident involving Jonty Bravery at the London museum in August 2019.
While the boy survived a fall from a height of 100 feet, he incurred life-altering injuries, including a brain hemorrhage and multiple fractures.
In a recent update shared on a GoFundMe page, his family, who affectionately refer to him as “notre petit chevalier” or “our little knight,” indicated that his rehabilitation process has become “longer and more challenging than anticipated” since his surgery in January.
They reported that he remains in a rehabilitation facility due to his inability to walk. “For the last three weeks, he has only been permitted weekend outings in a wheelchair, which has caused him significant frustration; it feels like a regression,” they stated.
The family emphasized his strong desire to walk again and lead a normal life outside the rehabilitation center, even if that entails balancing treatment with school attendance.
They noted that he is particularly eager to leave the hospital as they have “finally” identified a school that caters to his specific needs, which he had the opportunity to visit prior to his operation.
“In a very short time, he formed new friendships that have endured through his lengthy absence,” they shared. “These friends encourage him and are excited for his return, providing a warm welcome that he hasn’t experienced in a long while at school.”
Jonty Bravery, who was 17 at the time of the incident, admitted to attempted murder and received a life sentence with a minimum of 15 years to serve. At the time of the attack, he was living in supported accommodation, but he was allowed to be out unsupervised.
In January 2024, Bravery, now 24 years old, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison after being convicted of assaulting two nurses at Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital located in Berkshire.
