Mother lost grip in child's airport fall: police
Family was travelling to Argentina to get infant baptized, says friend
Last Updated: Monday, November 23, 2009 | 11:06 PM ET
CBC News
Lucca Romano died Sunday after falling at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. (Submitted by family) A 15-month-old boy died Sunday night after wriggling out of his mother's arms and falling about 15 metres at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.
The child fell from the upper departures level in Terminal One to the lower arrivals level at around 7 p.m. Sunday, said Peel Regional Police Sgt. Peter Riemenschneider.
Peel Regional Police Const. J.P. Valade said Monday that the mother was holding the boy when she turned to pay attention to the toddler's four-year-old sibling. The mother lost her grip on the child when he began to wiggle in her arms, he said.
The child was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, but died late Sunday night.
"The father just ran. He didn't even look at the mother, and he just ran and held the baby in his arms until the ambulance got here," said Karima Lalani, who works at the airport.
"I heard the screams. It was horrible. It was horrible. I haven't slept all night."
Const. Jodi Dawson of Peel Regional Police told CBC News that there were no signs of foul play. "At this point, it appears to be a really unfortunate accident," Dawson said.
Guillermo Bellido, the best friend of the baby's father, identified the boy as Lucca Romano. He said Lucca's parents, Flavio and Veronica, and his four-year-old brother, Massimo, were devastated.
At the time of the accident, they were on their way to Argentina to have the baby baptized, Bellido said.
Family moved from Winnipeg
Emergency personnel rushed toddler Lucca Romano to the hospital after the fall on Sunday, but he died later that night. (CBC) Bellido told CBC News the family moved to Burlington, Ont., from Winnipeg nine days ago.
A bank account has been set up in Winnipeg to accept donations to help the family with travel and funeral expenses, said Bellido. They plan to bury Lucca in Argentina, he said.
They had lived in Winnipeg for about 10 years, Bellido said. Both Lucca and Massimo were born in Winnipeg, he added.
A makeshift memorial was set up Monday morning near the area where the baby fell.
Bellido said cash donations can be made in person at any TD Canada Trust Branch in Canada for The Romanos, using account no. 6977-6326978.
Cheques, made out to Guillermo Bellido in trust for The Romanos, should be mailed to TD Canada Trust Vista Place, 1631 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB, R2N1Z4.
With files from The Canadian Press
