'Sad step backward' for boy thrown from Tate Modern balcony

The family of a boy thrown from the 10th-storey balcony of the Tate Modern art gallery have said it feels as though his recovery has taken a "sad step backward".

The French youngster was six when he was badly hurt in an attack by then-teenager Jonty Bravery at the London attraction in August 2019.

The child, who was on holiday with his parents, survived a 100ft fall but suffered life-changing injuries, including a bleed on the brain and multiple broken bones.

His family, who call him "notre petit chevalier" - our little knight - said in an update posted on a GoFundMe page on Tuesday that the youngster's rehabilitation is "proving longer and more difficult than expected" following a surgery in January.

"He is still hospitalised in a rehabilitation centre because he is still unable to walk," they said.

"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."

In their last update in October, the family described how the boy achieved his "long set" goal of being able to run, jump and swim again.

"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 most recent post.

The family said he is especially keen to get out of hospital because they have "finally" found a school "perfectly suited to his needs", which he was able to try out before his operation.

"In a very short time, he made new friends who have stayed in touch despite his extended absence," they said.