Couple used mattress to catch toddler as he fell from third-storey window

A couple moving out of their apartment in Burbank, California saved a child that had climbed out of a third-storey window on Saturday. Police say the couple's quick thinking likely saved the child's life. "The child climbed out of the window and was actually hanging out on to what appeared to be a telephone line or a cable line.



"They placed the mattress underneath the child, and at that point the child released and fell to the ground," said Burbank Police Lt. John Dilibert. Konrad Lightner and his wife, Jennifer, noticed the toddler and his sister throwing their toys out the window as they went in to get another load, including the mattress. On the way out, they saw the toddler throw his leg over the window sill. "We called 911 and Konrad threw the mattress down trying to break his fall and stood there to catch him," said Jennifer.



Konrad was able to break the child's fall, placing him softly on the mattress. The 3-year-old was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, but he did not suffer any major injuries. A neighbour rushed to get the little boy's parents, who were unaware of what happened but were deeply grateful for the amazing rescue. Photos from the scene show paramedics checking out the toddler as his father clutched him tightly.


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"It feels like I watched a TV show, like it didn't happen to me," Konrad said. The Lightners were honoured by firefighters and continued with their move. "It was very surreal afterwards. We were just moving the rest of day and every once in a while we'd look at each other and just be like, 'That happened. That was real,'" said Jennifer. Earlier in the day, the couple got stuck in an elevator. It took them 30 minutes to be freed. They say if that didn't happen, they would not have been there at the right moment to save the little boy.