Heart-stopping moment girl, 4, plunges out of second story apartment window

Published: 21:26, 20 August 2026 | Updated: 21:29, 20 August 2026 A Denver man is being hailed a hero after acting quickly enough to catch a four-year-old girl who had climbed out of a window and plunged two stories down.  Caliel Rodriguez, 23, was walking near an apartment complex at Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood when he heard plastic debris hit the floor. When he looked up, he saw a little girl climbing in and out of a window about 15 to 20 feet off the ground.  Rodriguez told FOX 31 that he suspected the child was trying to jump from the window and immediately thought: 'I'm going to try and catch that baby.' The good Samaritan immediately called 911 and got into position to catch the little girl while being guided by an operator's instructions.  'She jumped down. I caught her, like if she was a football,' Rodriguez recalled. West Metro Firefighters arrived shortly after.  Rodriguez said: 'If I didn't catch her, it could've been a lot more worse, it could have been fatal. If I didn't I probably would never forgive myself.'  West Metro Fire Rescue awarded Caliel Rodriguez with the West Metro Citizen Award for his quick thinking and courage. Social media users hailed him a real-life spiderman and said 'not all heroes wear uniforms' On Tuesday night, the West Metro Fire Rescue awarded Rodriguez with the West Metro Citizen Award for his courage and 'willingness to step in when it mattered the most.' '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,' said a fire department Facebook post.  'Sometimes, being in the right place at the right time isn’t enough. You also have to act.'  Social media users hailed him a real-life hero similar to a Colorado spiderman as they noted 'not all heroes wear uniforms.' The Good Samaritan told 9News Denver: 'I did the right thing. I'm not looking to be praised for it or awarded for it.' He said his award is on display in his home and that he is grateful it all worked out in the end. The young girl was reported in good condition after being evaluated by the police. She now remains in her mother's care.