Three-year-old boy with Down syndrome survives fall from fifth-story apartment window


Three-year-old boy with Down syndrome survives fall from fifth-story apartment window with just a broken leg after bouncing off awning

  • Jose Garcia, a 3-year-old with Down syndrome, fell from his family’s fifth-story apartment window in The Bronx but suffered only a broken leg 
  • Witnesses say store’s awning broke Jose’s fall, likely saving his life 
  • Jose underwent surgery and will spend the next month in the hospital to make sure his leg heals properly  
  • Boy’s family said he fell after pushing aside cardboard flaps of air conditioner in the window 
  • Police classified incident as an accident and said no charges will be filed  

A three-year-old boy with Down syndrome survived plunging from a fifth-story window in The Bronx after witnesses say a store awning broke his fall.

Jose Garcia was at his family’s apartment on East Tremont Avenue on Monday afternoon when he pushed away the cardboard flap of an air conditioner in the window and plummeted to the street below.

On his way down, the child hit an overhang attached to the wall of the building, which likely saved his life.

Harrowing video shows the moment Jose Garcia, a 3-year-old with Down syndrome, lands on the sidewalk on East Tremont Avenue in The Bronx after falling from a fifth-story window

Harrowing video shows the moment Jose Garcia, a 3-year-old with Down syndrome, lands on the sidewalk on East Tremont Avenue in The Bronx after falling from a fifth-story window 

Surveillance video shows the child appearing upset and struggling to stand up following the accident that took place on Monday afternoon

A bystander walks up to the child to offer help

Surveillance video shows the child appearing upset and struggling to stand up following the accident that took place on Monday afternoon 

The boy was picked up by a Good Samaritan while first responders were called to the scene

The boy was picked up by a Good Samaritan while first responders were called to the scene 

Jose's aunt, who was looking after him when he fell, is pictured covering her face with her hands on the sidewalk

Jose’s aunt, who was looking after him when he fell, is pictured covering her face with her hands on the sidewalk 

Surveillance video from the scene obtained by NBC New York shows the crying toddler sitting in the middle of the sidewalk and struggling to stand up as passersby surround him.

Jose’s family said he suffered a broken femur and underwent surgery, but was expected to recover.

Jose’s very close call came just before 1pm on Monday while he was in the care of his aunt and his older sister, Mia Jimenez.

Jimenez told CBS New York that one moment Jose was in the kitchen with them while their aunt was preparing food, and the next he moved to the bedroom and proceeded to remove the piece of cardboard separating the air conditioner from the window.

‘And then he just fell,’ the sister said.

Jose suffered a broken leg and underwent surgery

He will spend the next month in the hospital recovering

Jose suffered a broken leg and underwent surgery (pictured left before the accident, and after). He will spend the next month in the hospital recovering 

Jose's family said the toddler tumbled out of this fifth-story window after moving aside an air conditioner's cardboard flaps

Jose’s family said the toddler tumbled out of this fifth-story window after moving aside an air conditioner’s cardboard flaps 

On his way down, Jose hit this store's awning, which broke his fall and likely saved his life

On his way down, Jose hit this store’s awning, which broke his fall and likely saved his life

Video from a nearby store shows the boy’s panic-stricken aunt rushing outside and covering her face with her hands in terror as bystanders surround the boy on the sidewalk.

Hector Nazario is the owner of the tax preparation business whose awning broke the boy's fall

Hector Nazario is the owner of the tax preparation business whose awning broke the boy’s fall

Jose’s aunt said in Spanish that he was seemed scared and was looking at the people around him in surprise.

Hector Nazario, the owner of the tax preparation business whose awning broke the boy’s fall, said it was distressing to watch the drama unfold.

‘It’s a miracle the child is still alive, and it could have been worse,’ he said. 

Jose’s family said the three-year-old will have to stay at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi under medical observation for up to a month to make sure his leg heals property.

Police classified the boy’s fall as an accident and said that no criminal charges will be filed. 

Firefighters and paramedics are seen rendering aid to the boy as his emotional aunt, pictured in the yellow shirt, looks on

Firefighters and paramedics are seen rendering aid to the boy as his emotional aunt, pictured in the yellow shirt, looks on 

Jose's aunt

Jose's older sister

Jose was in the care of his aunt (left) and his older sister, Mia Jimenez (right) when tragedy struck on Monday 

The Administration of Children’s Services spoke to Jose’s relatives on Tuesday as part of its own investigation. 

The superintendent of the apartment building where Jose and his family reside said that air conditioning unit has seen been removed from the window and replaced with a window guard, which previously had been taken out to install the cooling device.  

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