Drama in Sarajevo: Firefighters and police rescue child from sixth-floor window, then cry after successful operation

(Patria) - A tragedy was averted in the Grbavica neighborhood of Sarajevo yesterday afternoon thanks to neighbors, but above all, firefighters and police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton. A woman who was in a park near the building where everything happened spotted a child standing on the outside of a sixth-floor window, N1 has learned. She immediately called the police and ambulance services.

Everything happened after 6 PM. Police officers, firefighters, and an ambulance crew quickly arrived at the scene (which we will not disclose to protect the minor children).

The child was standing at the sixth-floor window. Firefighters used a ladder, but also prepared a blanket in case the child fell, eyewitnesses told N1.

A police officer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton ran to the apartment along with firefighters who broke down the door to enter. All the while, they spoke to the boy, telling him not to move, to calm down, and that they would “buy him a chocolate bar”.

Shock upon entering the apartment

Upon entering the apartment, there was another shock. The two-year-old was alone in the apartment with his sister, who is about 4 years old. There was food on the floor.

Thanks to the composure of the firefighters and police officers, the child was saved. A firefighter seized the moment when the child turned and grabbed him, eyewitnesses told N1.

A large number of residents from this neighborhood gathered in front of the building and watched in disbelief what was happening. Touching scenes followed where both police officers and firefighters cried from shock and the sight, but also from happiness that a tragedy was prevented.

Search for the mother

A search for the parents ensued, but it was determined that the mother lived with the children. They were tenants in that apartment, N1 has learned. It was determined that the mother had left her two-year-old son and four-year-old daughter alone in the apartment, with the window open and the external blind halfway down. They tried to find her for hours. A social worker also arrived at the scene, and a police officer brought food for the children. The neighbors did not know the mother nor did they suspect that children were in the apartment. The ambulance crew examined the children.

In the evening, around 9 PM, the mother appeared, and she was taken away with the children in the presence of a social worker, N1 has learned.

Neighbors expressed great gratitude to the police and firefighters who acted bravely and saved the children.