A British father facing prosecution in Cyprus after his two-year-old son died in a tragic fall from a hotel window has asked a court for permission to return to the United Kingdom to attend the child’s funeral.
The 37-year-old, from Essex, has been charged with causing death by a rash, reckless or dangerous act following the incident at the King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas, near Paphos.
The toddler died after falling from a fourth-floor window on the family’s first day of their holiday. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Following an investigation, Cypriot authorities charged the father and ordered him to surrender his passport while remaining on the island under strict bail conditions pending trial.
During a hearing before the Paphos District Court on Friday, the father’s legal team requested that he be allowed to return temporarily to the UK for his son’s funeral. The court is expected to decide on the application next week.
If permission is granted, he will be required to return to Cyprus ahead of the start of his trial in September.
Defence lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou described the request as a humanitarian matter, saying his client needs to reunite with his wife and five-year-old daughter, who have already returned to Britain.
“The only thing that matters now is allowing him to be with his family and grieve the loss of his son,” Alexandrou said.
The Attorney General’s Office has confirmed that the prosecution will proceed while the father remains subject to conditions designed to ensure his attendance at future court hearings.
Reports indicate toxicology tests found only a small amount of alcohol in the father’s system, with the court expected to determine whether this has any relevance to the case.
The tragedy has attracted significant attention in both Cyprus and the United Kingdom, with relatives urging British authorities to provide humanitarian assistance so the grieving father can attend his son’s funeral before returning to face trial.
The court’s decision is expected in the coming days.