Two-year-old fell nearly 12 metres from hotel window; British father Joshua Foster fined 3,000 in Cyprus for causing death

Court imposes fine

Foster was sentenced at Paphos district court on Friday. The 37-year-old auditor pleaded guilty to causing death through a reckless, rash or dangerous act and received a €3,000 (£2,500) fine.

Judge Froso Christodoulidou read out the sentence. Foster held back tears, then hugged his lawyer and embraced his parents after the hearing.

Fall during family holiday

The family had arrived in Cyprus in the early hours. After visiting the pool and returning to their rooms to prepare for dinner, Foster, his father-in-law and the boy walked towards the lift at about 6pm.

Window believed closed

Foster’s lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, told the court that Foster was in a good mood and playing with his son as they approached the lift. The boy noticed a waterpark outside, and Foster placed him on the windowsill to show him the view.

The court heard Foster thought the window was closed and believed protective glass was in place. In a voluntary statement to police, Foster said his son fell before he could grab him. The window measured 2.85 metres wide and 1.2 metres high.

Response and court context

Police received a report at about 6.40pm that a child had fallen from the hotel’s fourth floor. The boy was taken to Paphos general hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite efforts to resuscitate him.