A British father, charged in connection with the death of his two-year-old son who fell from a hotel window in Cyprus, has been granted permission to return to the UK for his child's funeral. The 37-year-old City banker faces a charge of causing death by 'a rash, reckless, or dangerous act' following the incident at the King Evelthon Hotel near Paphos.
His lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, stated that his client is in a "very bad emotional condition" and "cannot follow the court proceedings with clarity." The father was allowed to leave Cyprus for one month on humanitarian grounds, enabling him to reunite with his wife and five-year-old daughter, who had previously returned to Britain with their son's body.
"He has already returned to his homeland," Alexandrou told local media. "I spoke with him last night. He has reunited with his family and they are preparing for the burial of their young child." The lawyer added that the return to the UK would allow the father to grieve properly and participate more effectively in legal proceedings.
The incident occurred on July 12 when the toddler fell 33 feet from a fourth-story window onto a veranda below. The father told authorities he placed the child on the windowsill while waiting for an elevator, believing the window was closed. However, it had been left open. The family was staying at the all-inclusive King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort.
He must return to Cyprus by September 14 and maintain contact with Cypriot authorities. This temporary release followed a hearing where he expressed gratitude to the judge and authorities for allowing him to go home. He had put up €20,000 for bail, with an additional €10,000 added as part of the agreement for his temporary return to the UK.
While he is in the UK, the charge he faces carries a maximum sentence of four years. The prosecution has suggested the father was holding the child while near the window, a claim strongly denied by the defense. The family contends the child was momentarily placed on the windowsill, and there were no visible signs that the large glass pane was open.
It was reported that the father had a small amount of alcohol in his system, having consumed between one and two drinks, which is a central element of the prosecution's case. Cypriot law does not require windows to be shut if they are more than 1.1 meters off the ground. There was no CCTV in the corridor where the incident occurred.
This incident marks the fourth death of a British guest at the King Evelthon Hotel in the past four years. Previous incidents include two drownings in the hotel's pool in 2022 and 2023, and another reported death while swimming in 2024. Despite a finding by a British tribunal last year that the resort's pool lacked a license, the hotel claims to have correct paperwork and has stated it has been cleared of wrongdoing by police investigations. A recent visit by the Daily Mail found the fourth-floor window through which the toddler fell remained open, with no warning signs or safety measures in place.