Joshua Foster will be sentenced at a court in Cyprus on 16 October

A two-year-old boy fell to his death at a five-star hotel in Cyprus after his father placed him on a windowsill, not realising it was open, a court has heard.

Joshua Foster, an auditor from Essex, "lost control" of the toddler while showing him the view of a water park, Paphos District Court was told.

The boy fell nearly 40ft (12.1m) from the fourth floor of the King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas on 12 July, the first day of the family's holiday.

Foster, 37, previously pleaded guilty to causing death through a reckless, rash or dangerous act and will be sentenced on 16 October.

He appeared at the same court on Tuesday where the facts of the case were set out during a one-hour hearing.

Foster, his wife, two children and in-laws arrived in Cyprus in the early hours of that morning, according to a translation of court proceedings.

They spent the day carrying out various activities, including visiting the pool, before getting ready for dinner in the evening.

As Foster, his father-in-law and son walked towards an elevator, the boy noticed a water park outside.

His lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, said they were enjoying "a pleasant, joyous moment of their life" when Foster placed the child on a windowsill.

"From that moment, the man's life changed forever," Alexandrou said.

The incident happened on the first day of the family's holiday at the five-star King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort

He said the father had not realised the section of the window was open and added: "He was focused on entertaining his child while they were on holiday."

Prosecutor Chryso Pergandi said police received reports that a child had fallen from height at about 18:40 local time (16:40 BST).

The boy was later pronounced dead at Paphos General Hospital.

Tests estimated Foster, who was held in custody for eight days after the incident, had an alcohol concentration of 124mg in his blood, the court was told.

Alexandrou said while grieving his child, Foster had to call his daughter from custody to explain what had happened.

The lawyer said the moment would "haunt him for the rest of his life".

"This will not end with two, three years of prison. This is a punishment he and his family will bear for the rest of their lives," Alexandrou added.

The court heard the window was 2.85 metres (9.3ft) in width and 1.2 metres (3.9ft) in height.

Foster – who was assisted by a translator during the hearing – sat in the wooden dock and quietly wept as the facts of the case were read out.

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Father admits causing death of his son in hotel fall