Toddler dies in balcony fall on third birthday
Second high-rise tragedy in 24 hours
A TODDLER died on his third birthday after plunging 50ft from his family’s flat.
Edward Popadiuc was the second child in 24 hours killed in a fall from a London tower block.
In both cases there were claims that the window catches were faulty.
Edward, who had earlier been at a nursery next door celebrating with his friends, fell to the ground from the fourth floor apartment in Harrow, northwest London.
Nursery staff tried to save him but he died two hours after the tragedy last Friday.
His father Alexandru Popadiuc said yesterday: ‘I don’t want to cry any more, I do it all day and all night. He is our angel now.’ On the morning of the tragedy he had posted a photo of his son’s smiling face on Facebook, writing: ‘Happy birthday daddy’s love.’
One neighbour, who declined to be named, said his own window catches were ‘very flimsy’ and said he had complained about it.
Another, Anton Jesuthsan, told the London Evening Standard that police had carried out checks on the Popadiuc family’s window locks after Edward’s death. It came a day after an 18-month-old boy died when he fell 100ft from the ninth floor of a block of flats in Tottenham, north London.
Ali Agac’s family claim he died after crawling through a ‘faulty’ window. They say they had repeatedly complained about it to their local council, which has now launched an investigation.
Ali’s mother, Duygu Agac, said: ‘He was a wonderful boy... I am heartbroken.’
The family in the latest case are originally from Romania. An internet fundraising drive to cover funeral costs and take Edward’s body home has so far raised more than £13,000.
Mary Da Costa, the manager of Little Aisha Nursery, said: ‘Edward was celebrating his third birthday – his very first birthday with us.
‘He left happy and smiling but unfortunately soon after he left the nursery to go home he had a tragic accident and fell from the fourth floor.
‘Little Aisha staff members administered first aid to try and save Edward but it is with a heavy heart that we inform you he sadly passed.’
Harrow Council said it could not comment ‘while investigations are ongoing’. A spokesman said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
The council does not own or run the building and it is not clear who does. Police said that no one has been arrested and inquiries continue.