Police rescue boy, 8, found sitting on air conditioner unit on 21st floor in Benidorm; father arrested

The alert

Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, the concierge of a building on Avenida Bilbao in Benidorm called police after a resident reported seeing a child in grave danger on the exterior of a high floor. Officers arrived but an initial check did not locate the minor. With help from a neighbor, they gained access to the balcony of the adjacent apartment.

The rescue

From that vantage point, they saw the boy, about eight years old, sitting on the outdoor unit of an air conditioner on the 21st floor, at clear risk of falling. One officer grabbed the child by the arm to prevent a fall while a colleague secured the officer, given the danger to both. The child was held continuously until he could be brought to safety. The concierge obtained a copy of the keys to the tourist apartment, allowing officers to enter and pull the child inside before the arrival of the provincial fire brigade, which had been called as urgent backup.

“The rapid action of the officers allowed the minor to be brought to safety.”

Father's arrest and explanation

During a search of the apartment, police found the child's personal documents, including a Bulgarian passport and a disabled parking permit, which helped identify his father. When the father returned to the building, he was arrested and taken to the police station for processing. He told officers that the child has autism spectrum disorder and had been left alone while he went out to do some shopping. The case has been referred to the judicial authority for further investigation.