Dad in court over three-year-old son’s death while playing ‘aeroplane’

A three-year-old boy was taken to Paphos General Hospital where he was declared dead (Picture: thisispafos.com)

A three-year-old British boy has died after falling 33ft from a fourth-floor hotel window while on holiday in Cyprus.

The toddler slipped from his father’s arms and fell onto the main veranda of the hotel in Chloraka,Paphos,at around 6.40pm yesterday.

The family had only arrived at the hotel the day before and were preparing to head down for dinner when the accident happened.

According to local reports,one side of a 9ft-wide,4ft-high double window beside them was open,but the 37-year-old father did not realise while playing aeroplane.

He was found unresponsive when paramedics arrived and was confirmed dead at Paphos General Hospital.

Pathologists later confirmed that he had suffered a severe brain injury along with injuries to his vital organs and the rest of his body.

Sign up for all of the latest stories

Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.His dad was arrested on suspicion of negligence at 10pm,according to Police Director Michalis Nicolaou.He appeared before a court at 11am,but proceedings were briefly halted when he became distressed.A family friend said the father had appeared without a lawyer because the family had been unable to arrange legal representation in the aftermath of the tragedy.A translator informed him that he would be remanded in custody for eight days while police inquiries continue.He faces charges of causing death by a reckless,negligent,or dangerous act,neglect of duty as the head of a family,and failing in his responsibility as a person having care of another.An investigation into the circumstances of the boy’s death is ongoing,and the area around the hotel remains cordoned off.The Paphos Criminal Investigation Department says it will gather a supplementary statement from the father and further statements from those at the scene.The couple had been holidaying in Cyprus with their two children and the mother’s parents. They had been due to remain on the island until July 25.Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.