A man in Kazakhstan has been dubbed a "hero" after saving an unsupervised 3-year-old found dangling from an 8th-floor window.
A 2014 study led by Patricia G. Schnitzer of the University of Missouri in Columbia found that young children are "more likely to get hurt when they are not fully supervised by adults, and especially when they are out of arm's reach," said Reuters.
Speaking to the news agency, Amy Damashek, a psychologist at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, said, "Kids are going to still get some minor bumps and bruises and things like that, but what we really want to prevent are those more serious injuries. If you're not right there with young kids, they're so mobile and curious that they're going to find a way to get into things."
Such was the case for the toddler in Kazakhstan.
In a Facebook post last week, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations said that Shontakbaev Sabit was on his way to work on May 11 when he saw the screaming toddler hanging from the window's ledge.
According to The Independent, emergency services had already been alerted to the situation by the time Sabit saw what was happening. However, he chose to save the toddler himself.
Shocking footage obtained by The Independent shows Sabit climbing out of a 7th-floor window located directly beneath the toddler.
The vertical windows are hinged at the top of the frame, pushing out only at the bottom, so the man had to squeeze through the bottom opening and around the window pane, using his right leg to stand on the ledge and hooking his left leg awkwardly around the open windowpane.
Once he stabilizes himself, he reaches out and grabs the toddler's legs, who is wearing a footed onesie and holding on to just the ledge of the window about three feet above him. He wiggles her legs a few times to encourage her to let go, she does, and he pulls her into his arms.
He holds the toddler in his arms for a few moments before passing her to his friend, who is sitting inside the 7th-floor apartment, holding Sabit's leg.
In honor of his "bravery," the Ministry of Emergency Situations presented Sabit with a medal and dubbed him a "hero."
"The hero has been awarded," read the ministry's Facebook post.
The ministry also stated that "no one was with the girl" at the time of the incident, said The Independent. So, it issued a warning to all parents, reminding them to "never" leave their children unsupervised.
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.
"Dear parents, this was a happy occasion when the child was rescued safely, but there are many other incidents with a tragic outcome," the ministry said via The Independent. "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."
As it turns out, Sabit isn't the first "hero" to make headlines for stepping in to save a child's life.
In January, two men in New Zealand saved four unattended children from drowning at the beach.
Back in August, a Florida bus driver was dubbed a hero after she saved a child found wandering alone, wearing nothing but a diaper.
And last April, a teenager saved a toddler from drowning in a hotel pool in Florida.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Sara Santora is a Newsweek reporter based in Florida. Her focus is reporting on viral social media posts and trends. ... Read more
