A seven-year-old boy who fell to his death while playing on his balcony was the victim of a “tragic accident”, an inquest heard.

Joshua Dinfuana suffered brain injuries after clambering over railings at the balcony of his family’s second-floor flat in Mitcham.

The boy’s father, Afonso Dinfuana, returned from work to be told of the accident by Joshua’s sisters.

He told last week's inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court: “My little daughters were telling me ‘Daddy, daddy, Joshua has fallen down’.”

The inquest also heard that after the accident a neighbour told police he had seen children climbing on the balcony before, and had to tell them to stop – something he had reported to their parents.

His statement, which was read out in court, said: “The children were never supervised on the balcony and this did concern me.”

But the boy’s mother, Celestina Dinfuana, who wept while giving her evidence, said she had never known her son to try to climb on the railings.

Joshua was playing with his sisters and cousins at the home in Bookham Court, Phipps Bridge Road, on August 23 when the accident happened.

His mother and her visiting cousin were in the flat, while their children were playing near the balcony.

Police said it seemed a child’s bicycle found nearby might have been used by Joshua to help him clamber over the 1.1m railings – but despite studying CCTV footage of the fall, officers could not be certain exactly how it had taken place.

Joshua was taken to Royal London Hospital, but died of brain injuries early the next day.

Deputy Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe called the incident a tragic accident.

The court was read a statement by Kiangkeru Olussadise, a 14-year-old neighbour of the family who had seen Joshua lying on the ground at about 5.15pm and run into the flat to tell people what had happened.

He said: “I told Joshua’s mother to come down because he was hurt. I don’t think she knew anything was wrong.”

A verdict of death due to an accident was recorded.

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