Tate Modern: 'Wonderful progress' as boy thrown from balcony begins to speak
Jonty Bravery admitted throwing a six-year-old from a balcony inside the gallery in August.
Thursday 19 December 2019 15:06, UK
The six-year-old boy who was thrown from a balcony in the Tate Modern has begun to speak again.
The parents of the boy, who cannot be named because of his age, said he is also regaining sensation in his limbs.
The French child was attacked by autistic teenager Jonty Bravery at the gallery on 4 August.
A post on the family's GoFundMe page, which has raised €169,000 (£143,500), read: "We have very good news to share with you. Our little knight begins to speak!
"He pronounces one syllable after another, not all of them, and most of the time we have to guess what he means but it's better and better. It's a wonderful progress!"
They said the return of feeling to his limbs had been painful for him.
The post continued: "He also begins to move his four limbs now. It is very difficult to see it concerning his left arm and hand, but it's really slowly beginning to move.
"However, as he begins to move, sensations come back and he feels more pain, above all during the night, which is very exhausting for everybody, but he is very courageous and we stay strong for him."
The family thanked members of the public for their donations which help to pay for his rehabilitation.
They said: "Your help makes it possible to offer our son the best rehabilitation, and for us to take care of our little boy every day, to stay with him as long as he needs with the best doctors and therapists.
"Thank you also to keep us strong with all your kind messages. You can't imagine how much it is helpful."
Bravery admitted a charge of attempted murder at the Old Bailey in London and will be sentenced in February.