Neighbors Rescue 8-Year-Old Boy Locked Up by Mother and Stepfather in Nîmes

Neighbors in Nîmes, France, rescued an 8-year-old boy who had been held captive for weeks by his mother and stepfather. The child survived on food delivered by neighbors via a backpack lowered down the side of the building. Despite multiple reports to authorities, the boy remained locked in the apartment, deprived of food and water.

Neighbors described how they had been providing sustenance to the child for several weeks. They managed to get a backpack with food to him by lowering it down the side of the building. This continued even as they made multiple reports about the situation, highlighting a perceived inaction from authorities.

The child was ultimately freed by police on August 14. The rescue came after weeks of confinement where the boy endured severe deprivation. The incident has drawn attention to the child's plight and the community's efforts to intervene.