Boy thrown from Tate Modern by teenager ‘showing clear improvement’ in sight, his family says

A boy thrown from the 10th floor of London’s Tate Modern art gallery has shown a “clear improvement” in his sight, his family have said.

The French child was six years old when he was badly hurt in an attack by Jonty Bravery at the art gallery in August 2019.

Mr Bravery is autistic and was in supported accommodation at the time of the attack but was allowed out unsupervised.

A court was later told Mr Bravery intended to select and kill someone.

He was convicted of attempted murder in 2020 and jailed for 15 years.

His victim, who was on holiday with his parents, survived a 100ft (30m) fall but suffered life-changing injuries, including a bleed on the brain and broken bones.

However in a new update, the victim’s family said he has shown increased responsiveness and dexterity.

Posting on a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than €377,000 (nearly £332,000) for the boy’s treatment and rehabilitation, his family said: “A clear improvement for his sight was noted by his orthoptist who prescribed him new glasses with a much smaller correction: our little knight sees better and better.”

The young boy can ride a tricycle and his wardrobe has been adapted to remove buttons and laces so he can dress himself.

His family said the start of the new school year has gone well but he still has “great difficulties with writing and with his memory”.

They added: “Sadly, he also has a really hard time making friends because of his fatigue and the wheelchair which prevents him from playing like the other children in the playground.”

The boy’s family took him to an adapted holiday home in the Massif Central mountain range in southern France to teach him to walk with a cane in July.

His family said: “We had to catch him countless times, but he made progress in mastering his balance, starting at the end of the fortnight to lean his shoulders forwards or backwards, depending on the slope. A real little adventurer.”

As part of his recovery, the boy goes to a swimming pool with a specialised therapist and his family said he is “beginning to be able to close his mouth in the water”.

They added: “We know the road is still long but our little knight is not giving up. His courage and his efforts are just incredible.”

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