Police rescue boy, 8, found sitting on air conditioner unit on 21st floor in Benidorm; father arrested
Around 11 p.m. Saturday, a neighbor spotted the child on the exterior unit of a high-rise on Avenida Bilbao. Officers reached him from an adjacent balcony and held him by the arm until they could enter the apartment.
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.
- Concierge calls police after a neighbor reports a child in danger on a high floor.
- Officers conduct an initial check but cannot locate the child.
- With a neighbor's help, police reach the balcony of the adjoining apartment and spot the boy on the AC unit.
- One officer grabs the child's arm while a colleague secures the officer; the child is held continuously.
- The concierge gets a copy of the apartment keys, allowing police to enter and pull the child to safety.
- The father comes back to the building and is detained by police.
- The father is taken to the police station and the case is sent to the judicial authority.
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.
