Our Bureau
London
An Indian-origin man in London has been hailed a hero after rescuing a three-year-old girl who fell from a window ledge of a building in East London, preventing what could have been a fatal accident. The dramatic rescue took place on Ilford High Road and was captured on video, drawing widespread praise on social media and from local authorities.
The child had reportedly been dangling from an upper-floor window for nearly nine minutes as alarmed bystanders gathered below and called for help. As her grip weakened, a Metropolitan Police officer positioned himself beneath the ledge while Mohamed Jesil, an Indian-origin restaurant manager, climbed across nearby rooftops to assist in the rescue.
Moments later, the girl lost her hold and fell. Jesil caught her safely while the police officer helped break the fall and steady both of them. Witnesses erupted in cheers as the child was brought to safety without suffering any injuries.
Speaking after the incident, Jesil said he acted instinctively and credited his cricket-playing background in India for helping him make the crucial catch. “I played cricket in India, so that may have helped with my catching,” he said, adding that he focused solely on saving the child.
A father of five-month-old twins, Jesil said he did not consider himself a hero and reacted as any parent would upon seeing a child in danger. The rescued girl later hugged him, a moment he described as a source of “massive relief.”
The child’s father thanked Jesil and the police officer, calling them “amazing heroes” who saved his daughter’s life. London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers responded swiftly and that the child escaped unharmed.
