Portsmouth man and woman arrested for neglect after toddler falls from fourth storey of flats
A TODDLER who was fighting for her life after falling from the fourth storey of an apartment block is now in a ‘serious but stable’ condition – with a man and woman in custody after being arrested for neglect following the incident.
A two-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital on Thursday night with what was described by police as ‘life-threatening injuries’ after the incident at Mulberry House in Bedford Street, Somers Town, just after 6pm.
The junction of Bedford Street and St James’ Road was cordoned off by Hampshire Constabulary on Thursday as police investigated the circumstances around how the child suffered the serious injuries – with police continuing to look into events on Friday.
Police revealed the ‘condition of girl has changed to serious but stable’ after she plummeted up to around 40ft from the five-storey block.
The authority also confirmed they have arrested a 29-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, both from Portsmouth, on suspicion of child neglect.
A police spokesman said: ‘The girl is currently being treated at Southampton General Hospital where her condition is now described as serious but stable.
‘Our enquiries into the exact circumstances are ongoing at this time.
‘We can confirm that a 29-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, both from Portsmouth, have been arrested on suspicion of neglect of a child to cause unnecessary suffering/injury.’
The pair were also arrested for possession of a weapon for discharge of a noxious liquid/gas/electrical incapacitation device and possession of a Class B drug.
On Friday were in custody.
The street cordon had been lifted on Friday but forensic vehicles were seen outside the five-storey block with officers inside the apartment as investigations continued.