Miraculous Survival Ends in Painful Struggle
The family of a young French boy catastrophically injured after being hurled from the tenth floor of the Tate Modern have revealed heartbreaking news. The six-year-old, who suffered life-changing injuries including bleeding on the brain and multiple broken bones, has taken a “sad step backwards” in his progress. The boy was thrown by disturbed teenager Jonty Bravery in 2019 at the iconic South London art gallery. Miraculously, he survived the horrific fall but has faced a long, tough road of recovery.
From Hope to Heartbreak
Last year brought hope when the boy, who is autistic, finally “learned to run, jump and swim again.” However, an update on his official GoFundMe this week revealed his rehabilitation has hit a difficult patch.
“Our son had surgery in January, but his rehabilitation is proving longer and more difficult than expected,” the family said. “He is still unable to walk and remains hospitalised in a rehab centre.” “For the past three weeks, he has only been allowed weekend leave in a wheelchair, which frustrates him greatly – it feels like a sad step backward.” “He’s eager to walk again and return to a normal life, even if it means dividing his time between treatment and school.”
The family added that the boy had just settled into a new school before surgery, one tailored to his needs. Friends there have been supportive and eagerly await his comeback.
Jonty Bravery: Life Sentence and Ongoing Troubles
Bravery, now 23, was jailed for life with a minimum 15-year term after pleading guilty to manslaughter over the assault. He suffers from a personality disorder and is held at Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire. The 2019 attack was premeditated; Bravery admitted he wanted to kill someone at random to prove his mental health issues were real and to get media attention. “I wanted to be on the news… so no one can say anything else,” he told police. This year, Bravery received an extra 16-week jail term for assaulting two staff members at Broadmoor after attempting to jump from a window ledge in his cell. He’s now constantly supervised by three staff members due to his dangerous behaviour.
Failures in the Care System Exposed
A 2021 serious case review blasted the care system for letting Bravery roam unsupervised despite a history of violence, including assaults on police, staff, and the public. He lived in supported accommodation but was allowed unsupervised trips to central London – the day of the attack being one of them. The report stated: “There was no recent evidence he posed a risk to unknown children or adults, which led to him being given more freedoms.” Critics argue this decision allowed the tragedy to unfold. Meanwhile, the boy’s recovery fund has raised over £500,000 to aid his fight back. His family vow to stay at his side as he battles through this latest setback.
