Child left alone at home falls 11 storeys to death

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD child who was home alone fell 11 storeys from his flat to his death last Thursday afternoon.

Chan Wei Tao is believed to have panicked after he woke up from an afternoon nap and found himself alone at home.

The Primary 2 pupil is said to have wandered to a chair at the kitchen window, climbed onto the chair and fallen out of the window to his death.

He leaves behind his parents and an older sister.

The police told The Straits Times that they received a call requesting for assistance at Block 103 Aljunied Crescent at 4.30pm on Thursday. Upon their arrival, they found Wei Tao's motionless body at the foot of the block.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The police are investigating the unnatural death.

Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported that the boy had been alone at home because his mother had taken his sister to attend a tuition class at a nearby community centre.

His maternal grandmother, who would have been at home with him, had also returned to China to attend to personal matters.

His mother is said to be a stall assistant at the neighbourhood market, while his father is a taxi driver.

A neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Madam Yang, told Lianhe Wanbao that she heard the noises of a child crying coming from Wei Tao's unit, as well as the sound of things falling onto the floor.

The 30-year-old housewife later received word that Wei Tao had fallen to his death.

Neighbours said he was a sensible and charming boy who would look out for his mother's safety. Each day, as she was about to leave home to cycle to work, they would hear him telling her to "be careful".

Eyewitnesses told Chinese evening daily Shin Min that they saw Wei Tao's mother rushing towards him and cradling his body in her arms when she reached the accident scene.

She was distraught and disconsolate, and eyewitnesses overheard her repeatedly telling police officers: "He could not have died."

brynasim@sph.com.sg

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