Spanish judge DROPS probe into couple whose toddler was filmed walking around narrow 82ft high ledge after girl’s parents offer a ‘sufficient’ explanation of what had happened
- Spanish judge shelved probe into a couple whose daughter walked along ledge
- Toddler seen walking along fourth-floor ledge of flats in Playa Paraiso, Tenerife
- Mother told judge it happened in ‘a matter of seconds’ while she was showering
A Spanish judge has shelved his probe into a couple whose daughter was seen walking along the narrow fourth-floor ledge of a block of flats while the mother was in the shower.
He decided to close the case and recommend no charges over the incident which saw the toddler scaling the outside of a block of flats in Playa Paraiso, Adeje, Tenerife on January 4.
The girl’s parents were criticised on social media for the video which saw the toddler walking along the narrow ledge 82 feet above ground.
Nail-biting footage showed the toddler sit down on a railing while she was filmed from a neighbouring apartment complex.
And rather than climbing over the balcony to safety, the toddler was then seen to walk back the way she came.
In a terrifying moment the child jumped as she appeared to lose her footing and raced back along the ridge, before she stopped at the window where the footage ended.
The little girl appears to climb out a window before walking along the narrow ledge in Playa Paraiso, Tenerife
The mother was ‘deeply affected by the episode’ and told the judge that the incident happened in ‘a matter of seconds’ while she was in the shower and her husband was running an errand.
Nationalities of the youngster’s parents were never revealed at the time, although court sources have since said the mother is Finnish.
A spokesman for the investigating judge said in a statement: ‘Investigating Court Number One in Arona, Tenerife, has ordered the provisional archiving of the case sparked by the girl filmed walking on a ledge some 82 feet above the ground at an apartment block in Playa Paraiso in Adeje.’
She scurries towards the apartment’s balcony while brushing her left hand on the wall for support (left). The unnamed child reaches a railing around the veranda (right) and sits down on it, as she is filmed from a neighbouring apartment complex
‘The decision was made after the girl’s parents were interviewed and the court concluded the incident was a one-of accident with no apparent prospect of it being repeated.
‘The case had enormous media repercussion because the girl was filmed from another building by a person who posted the images on social media.
‘The judge, Daniel Pedro Alamo Guzman, interviewed the parents last week.
‘The mother was questioned as a person under formal investigation and the father as a witness.
The child jumps as she appears to lose her footing (pictured) and races back along the ridge, before stopping at the window where the footage ends
‘When the incident occurred, the father was not at home.
‘In the judge’s opinion the couple offered a sufficient, coherent and detailed explanation of what had happened to the extent that it became apparent this was an isolated domestic accident with no criminal responsibility.
‘She also said they’ve taken remedial measures to make sure it doesn’t happen again by putting locks on each of the windows in their apartment which is on a fourth floor.’
Radio presenter Jer Dixon, who shared the video at the time, said: ‘This is absolutely terrifying to watch. Apparently recorded in Tenerife.
‘I always try to book ground floor rooms when on hols with the kids. You can see why.’
It was posted on the I Love Tenerife’s Facebook page with the caption: ‘OMG! This toddler managed to climb out of this building window whilst the parents were taking a shower.
‘This apparently happened over the weekend at a property in Playa Paraiso, Tenerife!’
However Mr Dixon said: ‘Lots of parent-shaming in the comments though. You only have to take your eyes off your child for a split second. We’ve all done it.’
The court decision does not mean the case will not necessarily be closed permanently.
However it will only be reopened in the unlikely event future new evidence emerges pointing to it not being accidental.
A well-placed source said: ‘As things stand at the moment, the investigating judge feels there is nothing to warrant continuing the criminal probe.