The town of Calpe, on Spain’s Costa Blanca, has been left reeling after two heartbreaking accidents claimed the lives of a baby and a four-year-old girl in the same week.
Locals say the community is struggling to come to terms with the shocking events, which both unfolded under devastatingly tragic circumstances.
A Fall That Turned Fatal
According to Spanish reports, the four-year-old girl, who had a history of sleepwalking, fell from the fifth-floor balcony of her family’s apartment in the early hours of September 7.
Her 15-year-old sister had been left in charge of her and their one-year-old brother while their parents were away.
The child was rushed first to a nearby health centre, then transferred in critical condition to Alicante’s General Hospital.
Despite intensive efforts from doctors, she passed away five days later due to the severity of her injuries.
Investigators Conclude Accident
Police investigating the incident have ruled out foul play, concluding that the fall was accidental.
Reports suggest the girl may have climbed over the railing in her sleep before losing her balance.
Witnesses said she struck a car parked below before hitting the ground.
Spanish outlet Informacion noted that the child had previously experienced episodes of sleepwalking, making the tragic accident even more plausible.
A Family’s Silent Grief
What makes the situation even more heartbreaking is that neither parent was home when the fall happened.
The responsibility had been left with the girl’s teenage sister, who is now faced with unimaginable trauma of her own.
A Second Tragedy in the Same Resort
This incident came just one day after another horrifying accident in Calpe.
A 20-day-old baby was killed when a parked car rolled down a steep hill, striking the pram her mother was pushing.
The baby’s mother, aged 37, was left critically injured in front of her husband and older child.
She remains in intensive care.
Official Mourning Declared
In response to the two accidents, Calpe’s local council has announced three days of official mourning.
Flags will fly at half-mast from municipal buildings as a show of solidarity and respect for the grieving families.
A spokesperson said the decision reflects the community’s “deep sorrow and condolences.”
Other Cases of Sleepwalking Tragedies
Sadly, balcony falls linked to sleepwalking are not unheard of in Spain.
In 2020, British tourist Coral Skipp broke her back after plunging 60ft from a hotel balcony in Ibiza while sleepwalking.
And in 2015, Emma Evans, 37, died in a similar fall, with an inquest later confirming her history of sleepwalking played a role.
A Town Searching for Healing
With two families grieving, and a community mourning alongside them, Calpe is in shock.
For many, these tragic accidents are a reminder of how fragile life can be — and how quickly everything can change.