Boy thrown from Tate Modern showing signs of improvement

Tate Modern
Author: Louise EastonPublished 30th Sep 2022

Three years after being thrown from the Tate Modern art gallery in London, the family of the boy who suffered life changing injuries, say he's showing a 'clear improvement' in his sight.

The child, who was six at the time had been on holiday when he was hurt in the attack by Jonty Bravery who threw him from the 10th floor.

He fell 100ft (30m) and suffered injuries including a bleed on the brain and broken bones.

Autistic teenager Bravery was in supported accommodation at the time of the attack but allowed out unsupervised. A court was later told that he intended to select and kill someone.

Bravery was convicted of attempted murder in 2020 and jailed for 15 years.

In this fresh update, the victim's family said he has shown increased dexterity and responsiveness.

Posting on a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than 377,000 euro (nearly £332,000) for the boy's treatment and rehabilitation, his family said: "A clear improvement for his sight was noted by his orthoptist who prescribed him new glasses with a much smaller correction: our little knight sees better and better."

The boy can ride a tricycle, and his wardrobe has been adapted to remove buttons and laces so he can dress himself.

His family said the start of the new school year has gone well but he still has "great difficulties with writing and with his memory".

They added: "Sadly, he also has a really hard time making friends because of his fatigue and the wheelchair which prevents him from playing like the other children in the playground."

In July, the boy's family took him to an adapted holiday home in the Massif Central mountain range in southern France to train him to walk with a cane.

His family said: "We had to catch him countless times, but he made progress in mastering his balance, starting at the end of the fortnight to lean his shoulders forwards or backwards, depending on the slope. A real little adventurer."

As part of his recovery, the boy goes to a swimming pool with a specialised therapist and his family said he is "beginning to be able to close his mouth in the water".

They added: "We know the road is still long but our little knight is not giving up. His courage and his efforts are just incredible."

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