A Denver man is being recognized for his heroic actions after catching a four-year-old girl who fell from a second-story apartment window. Caliel Rodriguez, 23, was walking near an apartment complex in Lakewood when he heard plastic debris fall.
Looking up, Rodriguez saw the young girl climbing in and out of a window approximately 15 to 20 feet above the ground. Believing the child was attempting to jump, Rodriguez immediately called 911 and positioned himself to catch her, following instructions from the emergency operator.
"She jumped down. I caught her, like if she was a football," Rodriguez recalled, describing the moment he successfully prevented serious injury. West Metro Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly after the incident.
Rodriguez expressed that he would not have forgiven himself if he had not acted. The young girl was evaluated by police and found to be in good condition, remaining in her mother's care.
On Tuesday evening, West Metro Fire Rescue presented Rodriguez with the West Metro Citizen Award. A fire department Facebook post commended his bravery, stating, "He didn’t hesitate. He rushed into position and caught her as she fell, preventing what could have been a serious or even fatal injury."
Social media users lauded Rodriguez as a "real-life spiderman" and noted that "not all heroes wear uniforms." Rodriguez, however, stated he did the right thing and was not seeking praise or awards, though he is grateful the outcome was positive. His award is now on display in his home.