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Hero neighbours catches toddler who fell from fifth-floor balcony in incredible footage

Emergency crews were called but didn't make it time, with the girl falling from the fifth floor apartment and into a blanket stretched out by her quick-thinking neighbours moments later

[The dramatic rescue was caught on security cameras, with the men now being hailed as heroes]

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The dramatic rescue was caught on security cameras, with the men now being hailed as heroes(Image: Polskie Radio Bialysto)

Incredible footage has captured the moment three men saved the life of a toddler after she fell from a fifth-floor balcony. The incredible rescue took place on Sunday in Lomza, Poland, which is about 90 miles from the national capital of Warsaw. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after receiving reports that a small child was dangling off a balcony at a high-rise apartment block. When first responders arrived, neighbours who had already spotted the girl, who was clinging on to the side of the building for dear life, had gathered below to help.

Stunning footage captured the moment three neighbours stretched out a blanket to catch the girl if she fell - which she did, moments thereafter. oma Police deputy commissioner Karolina Wojciekian confirmed to Polish news station Radio Bialystok that that emergency crews were called to the scene at a residential apartment building just after 2pm on Sunday. "Just after 2pm, we received a report that a child was on the fifth floor of a residential complex in oma, clinging to the outside of the balcony railing with her hands," she said. "Moments later, the child fell, but neighbours managed to spread a blanket on which the child had fallen. Thanks to their quick actions, tragedy was averted."

[The dramatic rescue was caught on security cameras, with the men now being hailed as heroes]

View 4 Images

The dramatic rescue was caught on security cameras, with the men now being hailed as heroes(Image: Polskie Radio Bialysto)

Deputy Commissioner Wojciekian added that the girl, aged four, was "conscious and taken to the hospital" for further assessment by first responders when they arrived at the scene. Ultimately, the tot walked away from the horror incident with only a few minor bruises. One of the neighbours that caught the small child, Dariusz Poski, told Radio Bialystok that he went outside to investigate what the hubbub was all about in front of the apartment building in which he lived. "When I left the building, I heard people screaming. I looked up and saw a child there, almost naked, only wearing a T-shirt. "The girl was on one side of the barrier, then the other. I shouted at her not to move, but she didn't react. Then one of the neighbours appeared with a blanket, and the three of us jumped onto the terrace below the balcony." He revealed that the incredible blanket rescue happened in the blink of an eye.

[The heroic catch was caught on CCTV]

View 4 Images

The heroic catch was caught on CCTV(Image: Polskie Radio Bialysto)

"I shouted for someone to help, but the people either didn't hear me or were afraid. In any case, the three of us spread the blanket," he said. "It was seconds, because when I looked up again and saw the child was already in a different place, we barely had time to move ourselves before she fell onto the blanket." Poski stated that the girl did bump her head after she bounced from the blanket and onto the ground, but one of the neighbours - a doctor - assessed her at the scene before paramedics arrived and determined she had some bumps, bruises, and maybe a sprained ankle.

It was a matter of seconds, he said, adding: When I looked up again and saw that the child had moved to another spot, we barely had time to move into position so she would fall onto the blanket. Despite the tot being left seemingly unattended, police later confirmed that her 27-year-old mother was, in fact, home at the time of the horror incident. She was, however, asleep inside the apartment as her daughter had a near-miss with utter calamity, while the girl's father was abroad for work.

[The girl was assesed at the scene by first responders]

View 4 Images

The girl was assesed at the scene by first responders

oma Municipal Police Headquarters press officer Urszula Bruliska confirmed police are now considering charges against the mother as she was later found to be drunk. She had a blood-alcohol level of 0.07 - or 70mg alcohol per 100ml of blood - which is considered to be a moderate level of drunkenness. For context, Polish drivers cannot get behind the wheel of a car with a blood alcohol reading of more than 0.02. A police investigation is continuing, but, if the mum is charged, it would likely be for 'exposing a child to an immediate danger of death or serious bodily harm'. If convicted, the mum may face up to five years in prison.

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