The family of the boy thrown from a balcony at the Tate Modern art gallery in London by Jonty Bravery have shared a heartbreaking update about his ongoing rehabilitation after surgery
The family of a boy who was hurled from the 10th-floor balcony of the Tate Modern art gallery have revealed that his recovery appears to have taken a “sad step backward”.
The French youngster was just six years old when he was seriously injured in an attack carried out by then-teenager Jonty Bravery at the London landmark in August 2019. The French child, who was visiting with his parents on holiday, survived a 100 foot (30 metre) plunge but was left with life-altering injuries, including a brain bleed and numerous broken bones.
His family, who affectionately refer to him as “notre petit chevalier” – our little knight – shared an update on a GoFundMe page on Tuesday, revealing that the youngster’s rehabilitation is “proving longer and more difficult than expected” following an operation in January.
They said: “He is still hospitalised in a rehabilitation centre because he is still unable to walk. He has only been able to have weekend leave for the past three weeks, in a wheelchair, which frustrates him greatly: it feels like a sad step backward.”
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In their previous update in October, the family described how the boy had reached his “long set” goal of being able to run, jump and swim once more.
“He is eager to be able to walk again and resume a normal life outside the rehabilitation centre, even if this normal life means spending half his time in treatment and only the other half at school,” they continued in their latest post. The family revealed he is particularly eager to leave hospital as they have “finally” discovered a school “perfectly suited to his needs”, which he was able to visit before his operation.
The post added: “In a very short time, he made new friends who have stayed in touch despite his extended absence. They encourage him and eagerly await his return. It’s a warm welcome he hasn’t received at school in a long time.”
The family explained that they remain uncertain how much longer his hospital stay will need to continue, stating: “Our little knight, as courageous as ever, continues to fight and train, and we will remain by his side to support him no matter what.”
London nurse Vicky Diplacto, whose brother was paralysed following an accident abroad, established the GoFundMe appeal to assist. Bravery, now 24, was living in supported accommodation when the attack occurred but was permitted out without supervision.
He had planned to choose and kill someone, a court subsequently heard. Bravery, who was 17 at the time, admitted attempted murder and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years.
He returned to court earlier this year, when he was jailed for 16 weeks after being found guilty of assaulting two nurses at Broadmoor, a high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire, in September 2024. In 2020, he received a 14-week jail sentence after admitting to attacking staff at the same hospital.
