Newborn Killed by Falling Avocado Outside Nursery

A routine school drop-off turned into an unimaginable tragedy when a massive avocado fell from a tree and struck a 12-day-old baby in his mother’s arms, killing him just days after he was born.

Now, the grieving family is demanding answers after revealing that parents and school officials had reportedly warned authorities about the dangerous trees for more than a year.

The freak accident happened October 22 outside Kindergarten No. 949 in Quilmes, a city near Buenos Aires, Argentina. Giuliana Gómez had just dropped off her 5-year-old son and was preparing to head home with her newborn, Lucas, when an avocado suddenly fell from a tree towering above the school entrance.

The fruit reportedly plunged more than 30 feet before striking the infant’s head. The impact was devastating, leaving Lucas with multiple skull fractures and internal bleeding.

Witnesses rushed to help as his stunned mother struggled to comprehend what had happened. One parent claimed an ambulance took approximately 20 minutes to arrive, raising additional questions about the emergency response.

Lucas was rushed to Sanatorio de la Trinidad hospital, where doctors performed emergency surgery in an attempt to save his life. Despite their efforts, the newborn died several days later.

But what initially appeared to be an unimaginable accident has now become the focus of a criminal investigation, with disturbing allegations that the danger had been repeatedly reported long before Lucas was born.

According to Argentine news agency Noticias Argentinas, school officials formally requested the removal of a tree near the kindergarten entrance on August 8, 2025, more than a year before the tragedy. The request was reportedly documented under case number 38329.

Gómez claims the warnings went unanswered, even though falling avocados had allegedly injured at least one other parent and narrowly missed children.

One particularly alarming allegation involves a father who was reportedly knocked unconscious after being struck by an avocado near the same school.

The heartbroken mother also accused local officials of waiting until after her son’s death to trim the trees.

“If they had listened to the complaints, we wouldn’t be mourning today,” Gómez told Argentine television network TN.

She also questioned why municipal workers reportedly arrived to prune the trees only after the tragedy, arguing that the work should have been completed months earlier.

The controversy has intensified as the family prepares to take legal action. Their attorney, Ariel Gil Cels, announced Thursday that relatives intend to formally participate in the criminal investigation and seek a review of whether officials could bear responsibility for the baby’s death.

Prosecutors in Quilmes have classified the case as a suspected negligent homicide, a designation that allows investigators to examine whether negligence contributed to the fatal incident. No criminal charges against municipal officials have been confirmed.

The family’s attorney has also indicated that they may pursue a civil lawsuit, although establishing accountability remains their immediate priority.

For Gómez, the legal battle is about more than obtaining answers for her son. She hopes it will prevent another family from enduring the same devastating loss.

“Let it not happen to anyone else,” she said.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the previous complaints, the municipality’s response and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.