Boy survives 80ft hotel plunge thanks to palm

A four-year-old boy survived a dramatic fall from the 17th floor of his hotel room when he bounced off a palm tree.

Rescuers found Joey Williams without any serious injury after he landed on a dirt surface near the hotel's swimming pool, also narrowly avoiding two pipes sticking out of the ground.

Hours later from the fall at his hotel in Miami, Florida, Joey was sitting up in bed eating and drinking with no broken bones or internal injuries.

Lt Ignatius Carroll, a spokesman for Miami Fire Rescue, told reporters it was amazing the boy was still alive.

"I've seen people die after falling 30 feet, but this boy fell up to 80ft," he said.

"He looked to be in pretty good shape. He wasn't all banged up like we expected."

Joey was with his parents and grandparents at the Doubletree hotel in Miami when he chased a balloon in the hotel room.

When the balloon went out on the balcony Joey chased after it and is believed to have climbed over the railing surrounding the balcony.