Russian Toddler Survives 110ft Fall After Nurses Use Coat as Makeshift Net
In a heart-stopping incident in St Petersburg, an 18-month-old toddler miraculously survived a 110ft fall from a high-rise tower block window after two quick-thinking nurses used a woman's coat as a makeshift safety net to catch him mid-air. Shocking footage from the scene shows the young child teetering on a windowsill of a residential block before losing his grip and plunging towards the ground, with a heavy thud audible as he slammed into the outstretched coat.
Heroic Nurses Act on Instinct
Nurses Anna Kabashova and Olga Artemyeva were lauded for their swift actions, which they described as purely instinctual. "We were acting on instinct. We didn't know how to behave in such a situation," nurse Kabashova said in an interview following the terrifying ordeal. She recounted standing directly beneath the window when another woman approached and suggested catching the child, to which she replied, "Let's do it." The nurses saw the toddler climbing over the windowsill "as if he were getting off a sofa" and within seconds, he was falling into their coat.
Lack of Supervision and Safety Lapses
Witnesses reported that the toddler had been trying to open the top-floor window for up to 20 minutes without adult supervision. At one point, he was seen standing on the sill, opening and closing the window, before climbing out and even eating some snow. His parents were reportedly visiting neighbours at the time, while his 18-year-old brother was at home playing a video game in another room and only realised what was happening after hearing screams from the street. Safety locks were fitted to two side windows in the flat, but not the central one the toddler managed to open.
Aftermath and Investigation
The child was wrapped in the remnants of the coat and rushed to the nearest clinic before being transferred to hospital, but was not seriously injured. The Primorsky District Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the fall and will examine the parents' supervision of the child. This dramatic rescue comes just days after another boy was caught by a yard cleaner after falling from a seventh-floor window elsewhere in the city.
Public Reaction and Calls for Recognition
In Russia, social media users have hailed the nurses as heroes, with pro-Kremlin media figure Margarita Simonyan reportedly calling for them to be identified for an award. Simonyan has previously given a one-million-rouble (approximately £9,600) prize to another rescuer this week. The incident has sparked widespread discussion on child safety and the importance of proper window locks in residential buildings.
