A minor under thirteen was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at La Fe Hospital in Valencia after suffering severe head injuries. He had allegedly been assaulted by his father, a 54-year-old man who was arrested by the National Police and is in temporary detention awaiting further proceedings. According to sources cited by this newspaper, the incident represents a serious case of suspected family maltreatment while doctors assess the child’s progress and the potential extent of injuries that could affect his speech due to neurological damage.
The assault occurred on April 27, during which the father reportedly admitted to hospitalization staff and other witnesses that he had pushed his son and struck him with a piece of wood. The family was staying at the paternal grandfather’s home in Paiporta at the time. The mother, who is also suspected of involvement in maltreatment, has been separated from the father for more than a decade and faces prior charges including violence against women and a restraining order violation, with an armed-violence context cited in court records.
The motive behind the attack, described as an argument over the boy’s refusal to take a shower and his use of a mobile phone, led to the alleged abuse. The father claims he merely pushed the child, who then struck his head badly; doctors later noted three skull fractures on a CT scan that did not align with the father’s account.
Initial reporting indicated the incident was not reported the same night. The next morning, after returning from fieldwork, the father found his son unconscious and informed his mother that they had argued the previous night and that the boy had a black eye from striking a wooden object. The boy’s older brother, aged 24, and a grandmother were at home, though the grandmother did not report details of the incident.
Health workers at Doctor Peset Hospital in Valencia, recognizing the severity of the case, transferred the minor to the pediatric intensive care unit at La Fe Hospital in Valencia, where surgery was performed last Friday.
The blows could have caused neurological damage that affected his ability to communicate.
After four days in intensive care in a critical condition, the child’s condition has remained serious. Medical assessments indicate that internal brain damage from the alleged assault impaired the ability to speak, with doctors noting that a portion of brain tissue linked to speech was affected. The mother describes the impact of the event on her family with visible distress.
The woman filed a formal complaint last Friday at a Valencia National Police station. Following investigations, the father was arrested on injuries charges and handed over to Valencia Investigation Court No. Seven to await further proceedings.
After his deposition, the judge ordered temporary detention without bail, with jurisdiction linked to the Torrent courts due to the location of the acts in Paiporta.
In the aftermath, the young person remained at his father’s home overnight without receiving medical attention. Messages from the boy, marked with a crying emoji, were later shared by the mother as she sought help for her child’s well-being.