Toddler plummets from two storeys

The toddler is recovering in Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital. Photo / Thinkstock

A 15-month-old toddler has survived plunging from the second storey of a Tauranga house on to concrete.

The toddler is recovering in in Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital after the near-tragedy at the Papamoa house on Thursday evening.

She had been playing with siblings in a bedroom moments before she was believed to have fallen around 5m from a balcony.

Detective Kevin Shields of Tauranga CIB said detectives looked into the matter but would not be investigating further.

The girl's mother and father were in the lounge area of the house and were alerted to the fall by one of their children.

"Mum and dad were both home," Mr Shields said. "There was nothing sinister. It was just an unfortunate accident."

Mr Shields said he understood the girl would probably be released from Starship next week.

The clinical director of the children's emergency department at Starship Hospital, Michael Shepherd, said it was not unusual for Starship to see preschoolers who had a fall greater than 2m at least once a week.

Dr Shepherd said preschool-aged children were at a greater risk of falls because they did not understand the dangers of exploring high areas.

Subsequent injuries could be serious, including long-term brain injury, or could result in death.

Children and adults did not experience falls differently, but proportionate to their total size. Children had larger heads and were less inclined to put their hands out to protect themselves. This meant a potentially greater risk of brain injury.

Dr Shepherd said falls in the home were preventable and he believed landlords and families had a joint responsibility to provide a safe home for children.

This included putting stays on windows and gates at the top of stairs.