CATCH OF THE DAY: Hero Caught Tot Dangling From Eighth Floor Window

Story By:  Ana MarjanovicSub-EditorMichael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

A rescuer who caught a three-year-old dangling from her fingertips over a 100ft drop from her family’s apartment window has been hailed a hero.

Astonishing footage of the nailbiting rescue shows the youngster was hanging on for dear life after she apparently slipped through the window.

But as she tries to cling on, her rescuer emerges from a window beneath her in what looks like a mission impossible at the apartment block in the Kazakhstan capital Nur-Sultan on 11th May.

Sabit Shontakbaev, 37, rescued a three-year-old child from falling from the eighth floor in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on 11th May 2022. (Newsflash)

As he balances precariously on a window frame the rescuer reaches upwards towards the girl hanging on to one of her legs, apparently urging her to let go.

When she does, she drops down into his free arm and he slips her through the window he had been balancing on before climbing back to safety himself.

Neighbours had called the emergency services but it was clear that the youngster -who had been left home alone by her parents – would not be able to hold on for them.

Sabit Shontakbaev, 37, rescued a three-year-old child from falling from the eighth floor in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on 11th May 2022. (Newsflash)

Kazakh’s Ministry of Emergency Situations named the hero as Shontakbaev Sabit and awarded him a medal for his heroism.

In a statement, the ministry said: “On 11th May at 10.21am, a message was received that a child was hanging from a window on Uly Dala Street 27/1 on the eighth floor.

“Subdivisions of the Department of Emergency Situations of the city of Nur-Sultan, consisting of 7 personnel and 2 vehicles, were promptly sent to the scene.

Sabit Shontakbaev, 37, rescued a three-year-old child from falling from the eighth floor in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on 11th May 2022. (Newsflash)

“By the time of arrival, it was established that a man had saved the child dangling from the window on the eighth floor.”

They added: “No one was with the girl, born in 2019. Fortunately, our hero Shontakbaev Sabit, born in 1985, seeing the hanging, crying child, without hesitation and risking his own life, took emergency action and literally caught and saved the little girl’s life in a matter of seconds.”

The ministry warned: “Dear parents, this was a happy occasion when the child was rescued safely, but there are many other incidents with a tragic outcome.

Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan awarded Sabit Shontakbaev, 37, who rescued a three-year-old child from falling from the eighth floor in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on 11th May 2022. (Newsflash)

“Never leave children unsupervised by adults! Do not leave windows open if there is a small child at home, because you could be distracted for a second, and this could end your child’s life or disable them forever.”