Baby survives 11-story fall

A young boy who survived an 11-story fall from a 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 God that he made it because this is a huge fall."

A group of Somali-Americans who live in the area quickly gathered as emergency workers treated the boy and an ambulance took him to the hospital, said community activist Abdirizak Bihi.

"When people found out he survived, no one could believe it," Bihi said.

Bihi said the child's mother was running errands while his father watched the boy and his 3-year-old sister. The father had gone briefly into another room when the boy fell, Bihi said.

In a statement released by hospital officials, the parents said they were thankful for the "continued prayers for Musa and his family at this time."

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

At a tenants' meeting Tuesday night, Riverside Plaza owner George Sherman said maintenance staff will close off balcony doors for any tenant who asks, according to Minnesota Public Radio News.

Sherman said he's also checking to see what sort of permanent childproof locks are allowed under the fire code.

The balcony meets requirements under city building codes. The vertical rods under the railing are 5.5 inches (14 centimeters) 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.