Boy died after leaping from window, inquest finds

A coroner has concluded that a five-year-old boy died after he leapt from the 15th floor of a tower in the belief he could fly, owing to his autism and inability to assess risk.

Aalim Ahmed died instantly when he fell from a kitchen window, which could tilt and turn, at a residential block in Plaistow, east London, on 16 May 2024.

Contrasting accounts about the condition of the windows were heard at the inquest into the boy's death.

Delivering a narrative conclusion, assistant coroner Ian Wade said that while the window was "compromised", there was "no compelling reason why a landlord should've considered that placing this little boy on the 15th floor was inappropriate".

The inquest had heard that an engineer sent by Newham Council in December 2023 to carry out an inspection and look at overhauling the windows and handles, found they were functioning when he saw them.

In contrast, the boy's mother, Sahra Osman, had a list of complaints spanning several months that included her fears the windows were opening too wide and she did not have a key, the court was told.

She previously said she was "horrified" when Newham Council put them in the top-floor flat, which needed repairs, and said the authority "could have prevented this tragic thing from happening".

The council was exonerated from culpability by the inquest.

In a statement, councillor John Gray from Newham Council said: "This was a tragic accident which resulted in the heartbreaking death of a young five-year-old child.

"Our thoughts continue to be with Aalim's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

"We are grateful to the coroner Ian Wade KC for his thorough and fair hearing of the facts of this case, which have at times been very difficult to hear and revisit.''

Sitting at East London Coroner's Court, the assistant coroner said the windows "were not used appropriately".

He said: "Aalim was an active five-year-old boy who suffered from a diagnosed condition called autism, such as to render him incapable of making reliable judgments about his personal safety and abilities.

"In the early hours of 16 May 2024, he awoke and went from his bedroom to the kitchen; he climbed on to a chair and then on to the windowsill of an insecure double turn and tilt window.

"He opened the window and in a naïve belief that he could fly or alternatively could come to no harm he leapt from the open window. He died at the scene."

Wade said he did not find a basis for issuing a report to prevent future deaths, adding: "I find there was no compelling reason why a landlord should've considered that placing this little boy on the 15th floor was inappropriate."

He said: "It wasn't the fact that it was the 15th floor that was significant, what was significant was that the windows had become compromised."

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