Full Breakdown
Father faces sentencing after toddler’s fatal fall from Cyprus hotel window
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Fatal Fall at King Evelthon Beach Hotel
On July 12, a two-year-old boy fell nearly 40 ft (12.1 m) from the fourth floor of the five-star King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas, Cyprus. Joshua Foster, a 37-year-old auditor from Essex, placed his son on a windowsill while waiting for an elevator, believing the window to be closed and protected by glass. Police were notified at about 6.40 pm. The child was taken to Paphos General Hospital, where resuscitation attempts failed and he was pronounced dead.
Background & Context
The Foster family – Joshua, his wife, two children and in-laws – arrived in Cyprus in the early hours of July 12. They spent the day at the hotel pool and other activities before returning to their rooms to prepare for dinner. While walking toward the lift, the boy noticed a water-park view outside the window. Foster pressed the elevator button, placed the child on the sill, and the “inconceivable” occurred before he could react.
Legal Proceedings
Foster previously pleaded guilty to causing death through a reckless, rash or dangerous act. He appeared before the Paphos District Court for a one-hour hearing in which the facts were set out. The court has scheduled his sentencing for October 16. He was held in custody for eight days after the incident; a blood sample taken at Paphos General Hospital indicated an estimated blood-alcohol concentration of 124 mg at the time of the fall. In addition to criminal proceedings, Foster faces possible disciplinary action that could result in removal from the auditor registrar.
Official Statements & Responses
- The presiding judge noted the window measured 2.85 m (9.3 ft) in width and 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in height, and remarked that Foster could not recall swinging his son, a detail the judge said was not connected to the act of placing the child on the sill.
Data & Statistics
- Height of fall: ~40 ft (12.1 m) from the fourth floor.
- Window dimensions: 2.85 m wide × 1.2 m high.
- Estimated blood-alcohol concentration at the time of the incident: 124 mg.
Verbatim Quotes
- “From that moment, the man's life changed forever,” — Alexandros Alexandrou
What’s Next
The court will deliver a sentence on October 16, after which any disciplinary proceedings concerning Foster’s auditing licence are expected to commence.