Mother says 5-year-old fell out of 5th-story window after trying to get his toys
SHEEPSHEAD BAY, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A 5-year-old boy fell out of a fifth-story window at a NYCHA complex in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, on Wednesday, according to police.
It happened just before noon at 2986 Avenue V at the Sheepshead Bay Houses.
The child was taken to Maimonides Hospital and was conscious and alert, police said.
Officials say the child is in surgery after scans showed bleeding on the brain.
A mother lives in the unit with her three sons ages 13, 12 and 5 years old.
Neighbors said because of the recent cool weather, the mother had just taken out an AC unit in the window. The window next to the open window does have child safety bars.
Eyewitness News spoke to the mother via phone while she is at the hospital.
She said it all happened so fast and the boy fell out of the window onto a grassy area.
His mom ran downstairs and was right by his side.
"He opened the window, trying to get his toys. His toys fell out of the window. So he opened the window, trying to get his toys. I see him lying down he was not responding. That's all I can remember," his mother said.
"Was he moving?" Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson asked.
"He was moving, yeah and his eyes were open but he was not responsive," the mother said.
She said she had just taken out an AC unit from that window.
The boys were in their room and the mother was about to take a bath when the two older boys ran in to tell her what happened.
At the same time a visiting nurse was walking into the building and spotted the injured child.
The resident explained what her nurse saw.
"When she went to look at him he seemed to be talking. He seemed to not understand what was going on but was talking he was alive and he was verbal so that's a good sign," the resident said after the nurse recounted the incident to her.
The nurse said the grass and dirt outside being wet may have "softened the fall."
"When I found out about it my heart hurt because my mom always watches them sometimes when the mom goes to work. He's OK he just has a broken arm. He's alright though, he's talking to his mom," a resident said.
NYCHA released a statement saying, "NYCHA is investigating this unfortunate incident and will work with the family to make sure that they have the services they need."
A neighbor said the boy had a broken arm and hand and that the mother always tells the boys to stay away from the windows.
An investigation is ongoing.
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