Desperate mum tosses son from burning building into arms of hero neighbour
A desperate mother trapped inside a burning unit was forced to drop her son five-metres into the arms of a heroic neighbour.
Her husband had already jumped, fracturing his leg when the Ashfield home went up in flames about 2am on Wednesday.
“It just came out through the window it was like a big fireball,” neighbour Dipesh Lama said after witnessing the inferno.
Tej Thapa was inside with his wife Shanti and their four-year-old son Shirish when he leapt out of the window, expecting his family to follow.
But with her husband’s right leg shattered, Shanti had no other choice but drop her young son into the arms of a neighbour.
“I came here and they throw the baby from there and I grabbed him immediately,” Yam Dhital told 7 News after bravely rescuing the infant child.
“He wasn’t crying at all, he was very sweet, really really brave about it.
“I’m not a hero but I saved his life.”
Mr Lama said the mother wasn’t able to make the jump and eventually fire and rescue officers came up and helped her.
The family’s roommate Nir Garbuha managed to flee via the main stairs and told 7 News he was feeling okay.
“There’s significant damage to the bedroom where it appears the fire has commenced and obviously smoke damage throughout the entire premises,” Ashfield LAC Inspector Andrew Graham said.
The Thapa family and their roommate were all treated for minor smoke inhalation at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
The husband underwent surgery on his broken leg this afternoon and will need a few more days to recover.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
