Drunk Mother Charged After 4-Year-Old Survives Fifth-Floor Fall in Łomża

A four-year-old girl miraculously survived a fall from a fifth-floor balcony in Łomża on August 9 after quick-thinking neighbors cushioned her impact with a blanket, while her intoxicated mother slept inside.

Dramatic Fall and Neighborhood Rescue

The incident occurred in the early afternoon on Sunday, August 9, in a Łomża residential area. According to surveillance footage from the “Perspektywa” Housing Cooperative obtained by Polsat News, the child climbed onto the balcony railing and crossed over to the adjacent, unoccupied apartment before falling.

Emergency services received a report about a small child on the outside of a fifth-floor balcony railing. The girl survived thanks to the swift reaction of witnesses and neighbors who quickly stretched a blanket below to cushion the fall after the four-year-old did not respond to pleas to step down. The fire department arrived later.

Mother’s Intoxication and Investigation

The girl was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Intervening police officers established that the 27-year-old mother was sleeping during the incident with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.7 permille, and she only opened the door after her daughter’s fall while the child’s father was abroad.

Initially, investigators planned to present charges last week, but the woman requested a new date to consult a defense attorney. According to Deputy District Prosecutor Joanna Czaplicka in Łomża, the formalities were finally completed on Wednesday, August 19.

Charges and Family Court Decision

The 27-year-old faces charges of exposing a child to direct danger of loss of life or serious health detriment by a person obligated to provide care. The suspect did not plead guilty and refused to give explanations, while the prosecution applied police supervision as a preventive measure.

A legal representative was assigned to the minor victim for the investigation. Simultaneously, the family court placed the four-year-old in foster care, with District Court Spokesperson Judge Jan Leszczewski stating the biological parents cannot provide proper care under a non-final but enforceable interim security measure.