Tate Modern Attack Victim's Recovery Suffers 'Sad Step Backwards', Family Reveals
The family of a French boy who was thrown from the 10th-storey balcony of the Tate Modern in London seven years ago has disclosed that his recovery has taken a "sad step backwards" following recent surgery. The child, who was six years old at the time of the attack in August 2019, sustained life-altering injuries after a 100ft fall during a holiday with his parents.
Setback in Rehabilitation After January Operation
In an update posted on a GoFundMe page on Tuesday, the family, who affectionately refer to the boy as "notre petit chevalier" (our little knight), explained that his rehabilitation is proving longer and more difficult than anticipated after an operation in January. The youngster remains hospitalised in a rehabilitation centre, unable to walk, and has only been able to have weekend leave in a wheelchair for the past three weeks, which they say frustrates him greatly.
The family expressed that this situation feels like a regression in his progress, stating, "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." They highlighted his determination to leave hospital, especially after finding a school perfectly suited to his needs, where he made new friends before his surgery who continue to support him.
Background of the Attack and Perpetrator's Sentencing
The attack was carried out by Jonty Bravery, who was 17 years old at the time and pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years. Bravery was in supported accommodation but allowed out unsupervised during the incident. In a separate case in January 2024, Bravery, now 24, was jailed for 16 weeks after being found guilty of assaulting two nurses at Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire.
The boy survived the fall but suffered severe injuries, including a bleed on the brain and multiple broken bones, which have necessitated ongoing medical care and rehabilitation efforts.
