Father charged after 3-year-old son found alone on third-floor window sill in Łódź while he walked dog
A 3-year-old boy in just a diaper was spotted standing on the third-floor window sill of a Łódź apartment block, throwing objects out while his father was out walking the dog. Police forced entry and rescued the child; the father now faces up to five years in prison.
On Sunday, 14 June 2026, a frightening scene unfolded on ul. Podrzeczna in the Bałuty district of Łódź. Around 4:30 pm, passers-by saw objects falling from a third-floor window. Looking up, they saw a 3-year-old boy standing on the external window sill, wearing only a diaper. The child was throwing toys and small furniture out of the open window onto the lawn below. Alarmed witnesses immediately called the 112 emergency number, reporting the danger.
Police and firefighters rush in
A police patrol and firefighters arrived on the scene almost simultaneously. One officer remained below while another ran into the building, asking neighbours which flat the child might be in. They quickly identified the apartment on the third floor, the top floor of the block. Officers gained entry to the flat and found the boy alone inside. Body-worn camera footage later released by police shows an officer greeting the child with the words "Hello, police" and leading him to safety.
The police officers took care of the boy. They dressed him and changed his diaper.
Father returns during the operation
While officers were still at the flat, the 38-year-old father returned. He told police he had gone out for a short walk with the family dog and his other child, leaving the boy asleep. He claimed the window had been closed and the child must have opened it himself. The mother was at work at the time, uninvolved in the incident. The father's explanation did not satisfy police, who regarded leaving the child unsupervised as reckless.
The father arrived at the scene during the operation. He explained to the officers that he had gone out for a short walk with the dog and his other child. He claimed the child was sleeping when he left.
- Witnesses report child on window sill and objects falling
- Police and fire brigade arrive simultaneously at ul. Podrzeczna
- Child brought to safety; father returns to the flat
- Father charged with child endangerment
Charges and legal consequences
The boy was taken to hospital for a medical check-up. He had no injuries but remained under observation. Medical staff confirmed the boy was healthy and uninjured, but he will remain under hospital observation as a precaution. The family court has been notified, and prosecutors have charged the 38-year-old father with endangering his child's life. Under Polish law, the offence carries a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment. The court will now examine whether parental negligence placed the child at serious risk. Police later released body-camera footage of the rescue, which quickly spread in Polish media, drawing public attention to child safety concerns.
