Two Passers-By Catch Toddler From Falling From Four-Story Building

January 5, 2007 (link)

New York, NY (AHN) - The timely arrival of two passers-by saved a 3-year-old toddler from certain harm when they caught the boy as he fell four-stories from a fire escape in the Bronx.

Police said that Julio Gonzales, 43, and Pedro Nevarez, 40, were passing by the neighborhood when they saw the toddler, Timothy Addo, dangling from a four-story building on Thursday. Apparently, the boy's babysitter took off her eyes from him and he was able to crawl out of the window.

Gonzales said, "He was hanging on for dear life."

The two men scrambled to position themselves under the fire escape to catch Addo when they heard people in the building scream for help as the boy slowly loosened his grip.

Nevarez adds, "No one came. We knew it was up to us."

The boy tumbled and hit the chest of Nevares so hard that knocked him off balance, but Gonzales was quick to catch him.

Timothy was treated at the hospital for a cut on his forehead.

Katrina Cosme, the 26-year-old mother of Timothy, who was at work when the incident happened said, "He's fine. He's happy. He's smiling."

Detective John Sweeney said they had questioned the babysitter and investigation is still on going.

The crucial catch came two days after a bystander threw himself onto a Manhattan subway track to save a man who had fallen, and a day after three police officers delivered a baby on a Brooklyn subway platform.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said, "This is the week of heroes in New York."