Girl, 5, falls from fourth floor of apartment building in Lauderhill

Child taken to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition

LAUDERHILL, Fla. – A 5-year-old girl fell from the fourth floor of an apartment building in Lauderhill, Lauderhill Fire Rescue Capt. Jerry Gonzalez confirmed on Twitter.

The incident was reported Friday afternoon at an apartment building at 1980 NW 46th Ave.

Lauderhill police said a 17-year-old was taking care of three other younger relatives, including a 1-year-old, a 4-year-old and the 5-year-old victim.

The girl somehow got out onto the balcony and fell off, police said. Because there is furniture on the balcony, police believe she may have climbed up and tumbled below.

Police said the girl landed on the pavement and not the grass. When paramedics arrived, she was awake and her eyes were open, but she was incoherent.

Cellphone video obtained by Local 10 News shows an officer comforting the girl as paramedics arrived. Video shows the girl face down on the pavement.

Neighbors who shot the video told Local 10 News that as parents, they were terrified to learn the girl had fallen from a balcony.

The girl was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition, Gonzalez said.

"Kids cannot identify with danger. They don't know what it is," said Lt. Michael Santiago, with Lauderhill police. "They can't recognize it. So it's incumbent upon us, the adults, to make sure that these kids are safe."

Family members identified the girl as Michaela.

Roseberilie Augusma, 13, said she was not at home when her sister fell. But through tears, told Local 10 News her only wish right now is "to make my sister come back and to make her alive."

Officials said the incident is being investigated by the Broward Sheriff's Office Child Protective Investigations Section on behalf of the Florida Department of Children and Families.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.