Sabit saw a crowd gathered at the entrance of the building. Everyone watched in sheer horror as the girl hung out of an eighth-floor window, at a height of about 100 feet. Sabit didn’t hesitate for a second and was determined to save the toddler. “My boyfriend and I knocked on the door of the neighbors who live on the seventh floor. I then climbed out the window to the girl. I had no security so my friend held my legs. At that moment I didn’t think about anything, I just wanted to help the child,” says the man.
The video of the feat has since gone viral on social media.
The spectacular images show how Sabit pulls on the girl’s legs, after which the child lets go. Then the man can catch her. Sabit’s friend takes the girl in his arms and finally pulls her inside safely. The residents of the building also immediately notified the emergency services, but when they arrived the toddler was safely inside.
The Kazakh Ministry of Emergencies has awarded Sabit a medal for his rapid rescue response. “Fortunately, our hero Shontakbaev Sabit, who risked his own life when he saw the crying child, was able to catch her without any hesitation and in seconds,” the ministry said. Sabit also met the mayor of the city, who also thanked him for his brave act.
A few weeks ago, 36-year-old Sabit moved to Nur-Sultan from the city of Kyzylorda to work as a construction worker. The city council now wants to honor the man and has decided to also bring his wife and four children to the capital and pay off the family’s debts. The local construction company Sabit works for has also given him a three-bedroom apartment.