Nîmes: 8-year-old boy rescued after being locked away by parents

An 8-year-old boy has been rescued in Nîmes, France, after being allegedly locked in a room without adequate access to food or water for several weeks. The child's mother and stepfather are suspected of the neglect.

The boy managed to alert neighbors by calling for help and passing notes through a window, including a message stating, ‘Aidez-moi’ (Help me). In response, neighbors organized to provide sustenance by lowering bags of food and water via a rope attached to a line.

Law enforcement intervened on Friday evening, August 14, to take the child into custody. He has since been placed in a care facility. The mother and stepfather have been detained and are expected to be questioned by investigators as part of an inquiry into maltreatment and negligence. While the 8-year-old was found in inhumane conditions, authorities reported no immediate signs of abuse regarding the couple's eight-month-old infant, who remains in their care for the time being.