New Delhi: An Indian man in London is garnering praise online for rescuing a three-year-old girl who fell from a balcony ledge. Mohamed Jesil, from Malappuram, Kerala, credited his cricket skills for the save.
The incident occurred on Ilford High Road on 9 June. The girl was spotted by onlookers clinging to a second-floor balcony ledge. In a video circulated widely on social media, a police officer can be seen on the first floor attempting to rescue the child. However, she suddenly lost her grip and fell, only to be caught by Jesil, who had made his way to the spot.
Jesil, who works as a restaurant manager, was at his home, six flats away, when he heard the commotion outside. He looked outside, saw the scene, and quickly jumped out of his window to run over to where the girl was.
“The policeman was having some trouble looking up at the girl because the sun was in his eyes. It wasn’t bothering me, so I told him to move aside and positioned myself accordingly,” he told an Instagram channel.
Jesil also said that his instincts and even his cricket skills helped him catch the girl in time when she lost her grip and fell.
“I played cricket in India, so that may have helped with my catching. I just knew I had to concentrate,” he added.
Jesil was in the middle of getting dressed for work when the incident happened.
“I wasn’t scared, I just didn’t think. I’m not a hero, I just did what any dad would do when seeing a child in trouble,” he told Metro.
Also read: This British MP doesn’t want Indians and Pakistanis to be imported for jobs
‘A big hug’
Describing the incident and its aftermath, Jesil said the little girl responded by giving him a big hug shortly after he rescued her.
“I ran out on instinct. I’m a dad of five-month-old twins, and as a father, I just reacted,” said Jesil.
The girl’s father thanked both the police and Jesil, describing the latter as a hero for saving his daughter.
“They were both amazing. They were heroes. We are so relieved. They saved our child,” he said.
The dramatic rescue drew a large crowd to the scene and quickly gained attention on social media.
“Not all heroes wear capes. Great work, thank you!” wrote one user on Instagram.
Jesil’s Instagram is full of posts by organisations and individuals lauding him for his bravery.
However, many social media users questioned how the young girl had managed to reach the window ledge in the first place and questioned the parents and parenting.
“How did the child get to that point? Parents need to be careful with children and watch them always,” wrote a user on X.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)