British man to be sentenced for causing death of two-year-old son who fell from hotel window in Cyprus

A British man is due to be sentenced for causing the death of his two-year-old son, who fell from a fourth floor window of a hotel in Cyprus during a family holiday.

Joshua Foster had placed the toddler on a windowsill to show him the view of a waterpark, not realising the window was open, Paphos District Court previously heard.

The 37-year-old from Essex pleaded guilty to causing death through a reckless, rash or dangerous act and will be sentenced at the same court on Friday.

It was previously heard that Foster thought there was protective glass and the window was shut when he “lost control” of his young son.

Foster, his wife, two children, and in-laws had arrived at the five-star King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas in the early hours of July 12.

After spending the day carrying out activities, the family returned to their rooms to get ready to go out for dinner.

Foster, his father-in-law and son left their rooms and walked towards the elevator at around 6pm.

The boy fell from the fourth floor of the five-star King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas on 12 July.

PA

As they approached the lift, the boy noticed a waterpark outside, Foster’s lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou told an earlier hearing.

Foster pushed the elevator button, placed the child on the windowsill, the boy looked out, and the “inconceivable” happened before Foster had a chance to react, the court was told.

Prosecutor Chryso Pergandi said that at around 6.40pm on July 12, police received reports that a child had fallen from the fourth floor of the beachfront hotel in unknown circumstances.

The boy was taken to Paphos General Hospital where, despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead.

Foster’s father-in-law said the defendant had picked up his son and placed him on the window to “see the view” before he fell, it was heard.

Foster gave a voluntary statement to police and said his son “fell before he had a chance to grab him”.

Mr Alexandrou said the moment will “haunt him for the rest of his life”, adding: “We’re allowed, even when we’re happy, to lose our concentration. And in that moment he was happy, he held his child.”

The court heard the window was 2.85 metres (9.3ft) wide and 1.2 metres (3.9ft) high.