British Father Pleads Guilty in Son's Cyprus Hotel Balcony Death
KPMG director faces sentencing after admitting to causing his two-year-old son's death in a fall from a hotel window.
A British father has pleaded guilty to causing the death of his two-year-old son, who fell from the fourth-floor balcony of a hotel in Cyprus. Joshua Foster, 37, an AI director at KPMG, faces a potential prison sentence of up to four years after admitting to the charge at Paphos District Court.
Foster's lawyer stated that the incident on July 12 was the result of a "momentary lapse of attention" and that there was no intention to cause harm. The tragedy occurred on the first day of the family's holiday at the five-star King Evelthon Hotel near Paphos. Foster had reportedly placed his son on a windowsill while waiting for a lift, believing the window was closed, but the child fell backwards.
The toddler was pronounced dead upon arrival at Paphos General Hospital. Foster was arrested hours after the incident on suspicion of causing death by a "rash, dangerous or reckless act." He was held on remand for eight days before being released on bail.
His lawyer argued for the case to be dismissed on humanitarian grounds, citing the family's profound grief and the lack of public interest in further prosecution. Foster decided to plead guilty to end the legal proceedings and to be able to return to his family. Sentencing is scheduled for October 5, and Foster must wait two weeks to learn his fate. He may be eligible for a suspended sentence in the UK if the jail term is less than three years.
Foster, who is from Essex, is permitted to return home for ten days before the sentencing. Toxicology reports indicated a small amount of alcohol in his blood, equivalent to one or two drinks. He was required to pay €30,000 (£25,750) bail and was initially banned from leaving Cyprus.
The incident has brought attention to the safety record of the King Evelthon Hotel. The toddler was the third British tourist to die at the resort in four years. In July 2022, Ben Woods, 21, drowned in the hotel pool, and the following year, six-year-old Ruaridh Nairne also drowned. Another woman reportedly died at the hotel in 2024.
UK health and safety guidelines typically restrict hotel windows to an opening of 4 inches or less if they are large enough for children to fall through. However, Cypriot regulations only require a ledge of at least 3.5 feet, a standard the King Evelthon Hotel meets.
Foster, who has worked at KPMG since 2015, had to inform his five-year-old daughter of her brother's death via FaceTime. His wife and daughter returned to the UK in late July. The family, who live in Chelmsford, recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Foster previously co-founded a tennis competition app called Sportch.