Boy who suffered life-threatening injuries and multiple broken bones after being thrown 100ft off 10th floor of Tate Modern is keen to run and play football again, reveal his hopeful family

• The boy, 10, was visiting the Tate with family in August 2019 when he was thrown
• Jonty Bravery was convicted of attempted murder in 2020 and jailed for 15 years

A boy who suffered life-threatening injuries and multiple broken bones after being thrown 100ft off the 10th floor of the Tate Modern by a stranger desperately hopes to play football one day again, his family has revealed.

Posting an update on his condition they said he was keen to be able to run and had managed to move his left ankle unaided.

The latest update from his parents shows just what an uphill battle the now 10-year-old has to regain a sense of normality after he was thrown off the viewing platform at the London art gallery in August 2019. 

The French youngster was visiting the Tate on the South Bank with his family when disturbed teen Jonty Bravery, then 17, singled him out, grabbing him and throwing him off the outside space at the famous London landmark.

Surrey nurse Vicky Diplacto, who has raised an incredible £353,000 for the boy after setting up a GoFundMe, often posts updates from the youngster’s family.

Jonty Bravery (pictured) was convicted of attempted murder in 2020 and jailed for 15 years

In the most recent the family say their ‘little knight’ has just re-learnt to jump on the spot and is training hard because he so wants to run and kick a ball about.

The update says: ‘During the last school holidays, we managed to celebrate our son’s birthday.

‘He was super happy because he was able to invite friends from school and also from the hospital, who came with their specialised therapist.

‘They were all able to play Lego, cards, and even ball together outside: our son is still aiming to play football again, and he’s super motivated!

‘We also went to Paris to make new x-rays and see the orthopedic surgeon.

‘And we are happy because the condition of the left hip has improved (it means no surgery, for the moment) and the spine remains stable, so we don’t have to put back the corset, phew!

‘The surgeon was also very happy to see the return of the first movements of the left ankle! And to see that our little knight was also able to point, with his left hand as well, raising his arm above his head!

‘Among the visible progress, he has gained more balance and strength, and he can now do small jumps on the spot! And forward! He trains a lot, because he knows it’s a step to learn to run again.’

The boy has also just managed to start breathing through his nose and can now close his mouth correctly, they added.

‘The surgeon’s instruction is always to continue the sport: he will be able to start ground fighting in judo (being very careful with his left arm, and always with his specialised therapist on the tatami, of course!),’ they added.

‘In archery, he will be able to shoot standing and no longer seated and we will remove the system of shrouds that fixed his bow.

The victim, visiting the London museum with his French family, fell 100ft on to a roof five floors below (pictured, the aftermath)

‘He will therefore hold his bow himself, and we will just have to help him nock (sic) his arrows. A real little Robin Hood!’

However, they said his cognitive progress was ‘the most difficult’ as the boy has only just begun to read and write.

‘It’s still very slow and very tiring but, as you know now, there is a beginning for everything, and as our little knight is very brave and wants to train, we know that he will progress,’ his parents said.

‘His working memory is also progressing, allowing him now to carry out a few small, simple tasks on his own. He remembers better what he is doing, which is one of the keys to success.

‘We have just learned that as he is doing well in class, he moves up to the next year. We have already met his new teacher!’

The family also added: ‘To be honest, we didn’t know in September if our son would do well in school.

‘The hospital is very pessimistic about his chances of success, due to the severe head trauma he suffered.

‘We had therefore prepared ourselves for a more negative scenario…and we are very happy to see that our Little Knight has thrived at school, with his classmates, and has succeeded this school year by progressing both on the motor and cognitive level.’

On the day of the incident, teen Jonty Bravery was lying in wait and hoping to pick on someone to kill, a court was later told.

He was convicted of attempted murder and jailed for life with a minimum of 15 years.

Police were called to the Tate Modern in 2019 after the boy was thrown from the tenth floor

The boy suffered a bleed on the brain, broken legs and arms and a fractured spine, but amazingly survived the fall at the art gallery.

There are some touching messages from those donating to the GoFundMe in the last few weeks.

One said: ‘The tragedy that befell this family has always touched my heart, they have coped admirably. I donate regularly, it is my way of saying sorry that another human being caused such suffering to them.

‘Glad to hear their little knight is doing so well & hope he continues to thrive in his new classroom environment come September.’

Another added: ‘I have a six-year-old son and we are going to Paris soon. The thought of something like this happening is horrifying.

‘I hope the family doesn’t think too badly of British people as a result of this maniac’s actions.

‘I am very sorry this happened and send love and best wishes for your little boy’s rehabilitation.’

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