Boy, 5, died believing he could fly, inquest finds

A five-year-old boy died after falling from a kitchen window on the 15th floor of a residential tower in Plaistow, east London, because he believed he could fly. Aalim Ahmed died instantly on 16 May 2024 when he fell from the window, which was capable of tilting and turning.

Inquest findings

Assistant coroner Ian Wade delivered a narrative conclusion at East London Coroner's Court. He stated that while the window was 'compromised', there was 'no compelling reason why a landlord should've considered that placing this little boy on the 15th floor was inappropriate'. The coroner added that the windows 'were not used appropriately'.

Mr Wade explained that Aalim suffered from autism, which rendered him incapable of making reliable judgments about his personal safety and abilities. The assistant coroner detailed how the boy awoke in the early hours of 16 May, climbed onto a chair and then the windowsill of the double turn and tilt window. He then opened it and 'in a naïve belief that he could fly or alternatively could come to no harm he leapt from the open window'.

Window inspection and mother's concerns

The inquest heard contrasting accounts regarding the condition of the windows. An engineer sent by Newham Council in December 2023 to inspect and potentially overhaul the windows and handles found them to be functioning at the time of his visit. However, Aalim's mother, Sahra Osman, had raised concerns over several months. She stated her fears that the windows were opening too wide and that she did not have a key to restrict them.

Ms Osman had previously expressed horror at the council placing them in the top-floor flat, which required repairs, and stated that the authority 'could have prevented this tragic thing from happening'. Despite these concerns, the inquest exonerated Newham Council from culpability. The assistant coroner did not find a basis for issuing a report to prevent future deaths.

Mr Wade clarified that it was not the 15th-floor height that was significant, but rather that the windows had become compromised.