Family of boy thrown from Tate Modern say he’s taken a ‘sad step backwards’

The boy who was thrown off the balcony of the Tate Modern art gallery in London has made a ‘sad backwards step’ in his recovery.

The boy, from France, was six-years-old when he was thrown from the 10th floor by Jonty Bravery in August 2019.

He survived the fall but suffered a bleed on the brain and multiple broken bones.

His family, who refer to him as ‘notre petit chevalier’ or ‘our little knight’ posted in his GoFundMe last night that his rehabilitation has undergone a ‘sad step backward’ following an operation in January.

They wrote: ‘He is still hospitalised in a rehabilitation centre because he is still unable to walk.

‘He has only been able to have weekend leave for the past three weeks, in a wheelchair, which frustrates him greatly: it feels like a sad step backwards.

‘He is eager to be able to walk again and resume a normal life outside the rehabilitation centre, even if this normal life means spending half his time in treatment and only the other half at school.

‘Our little knight, as courageous as ever, continues to fight and train, and we will remain by his side to support him no matter what.’

In October the family said the boy had achieved his ‘long set’ goal of being able to run, jump and swim again.

The family had also found a school which was ‘perfectly suited to his needs’.

They said: ‘In a very short time, he made new friends who have stayed in touch despite his extended absence.

‘They encourage him and eagerly await his return. It’s a warm welcome he hasn’t received at school in a long time.’

Jonty Bravery was handed a life sentence for throwing the boy 100 ft from the 10th floor of the gallery.

The judge said it is ‘very unlikely’ Bravery will be deemed safe for release at the end of his 15-year minimum term, ‘unless something significant changes’.

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