Rooftop Game Of Hide And Seek Ends In Tragedy

AVENTURA, FL — An eight-year-0ld boy who was visiting his mother from Aruba jumped from her Aventura high-rise rooftop while playing hide and seek with his brother. Justin Fernandes-Pedra was airlifted to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in nearby Hollywood on Thursday, where he was pronounced dead. The incident happened shortly after 3 p.m.

The child lived in Arubua with his brother and father, identified as Aldric Fernandes-Pedra, according to Aventura police. The child's mother lives in the penthouse level of the waterfront Echo Aventura condominium building, but the entire family was preparing for a trip to Disney World at the time of the incident, police said.

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The child fell into nearby Aventura Peace Park, according to Sgt. Chris Goranitis of the Aventura Police Department. The condominum building is located at 3200 NE 188 th Street.

"Arriving units located the child and began CPR until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived and transported the child to Memorial Hospital (Joe DiMaggio) Trauma Unit via Air Rescue," Goranitis explained. "Regretfully, the child was pronounced deceased upon arrival."

Goranitis said that early indications are that the fall was accidental based on evidence and witness accounts.

"The victim and his brother were playing hide and seek while their parents were getting ready for their trip," according to the police report. "The victim and his brother left the apartment through a rear door and took the stairs up to the rooftop where the victim jumped off
of the roof."

Photo by Paul Scicchitano