Boy Survives 11-Story Fall From Minnesota Building

A young boy who survived an 11-story fall from a Minneapolis high-rise has been dubbed “the miracle baby” and was recovering in a hospital Wednesday.

Fifteen-month-old Musa Dayib suffered a broken spine and ribs as well as a concussion and a punctured lung. Musa’s relatives believe he slipped through the railing of his family’s apartment balcony Sunday evening.

The boy was in critical but stable condition Wednesday, Hennepin County Medical Center spokeswoman Christine Hill said.

Dr. Tina Slusher of the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit told the Star Tribune that Musa landed on a small patch of mulch.

“If you and I fell that far, we would be dead,” Slusher said. “He’s a kid. So they tend to be more flexible and pliable than you and I would be. Having said that, it’s a real gift from G-d that he made it because this is a huge fall.”

The owner of the apartment building met with community members to discuss measures to keep children safe.

The balcony meets requirements under city building codes. The vertical rods under the railing are 5 1/2 inches apart, a larger space than today’s building code requires, according to Minneapolis city building official Patrick Higgins. However, updates to the code are grandfathered in.

This article appeared in print on page 3 of the May 15th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.