Con Ed Worker Saves Toddler From Narrow Window Ledge In The Bronx

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A worker with Con Edison rescued a toddler from an apartment window ledge in the Bronx Friday morning.

It was around 11:30 a.m. and Essa Waggeh was working on a gas leak on Walton Avenue when the 26-year-old said he heard someone screaming for help around the corner at 15-55 Grand Concourse.

"One of the neighbors was screaming 'We need help! We need help! There's a baby out on the window,'" Waggeh told 1010 WINS' Al Jones.

Waggeh said the 3-year-old girl was sitting on a narrow second-floor window ledge with an air conditioning unit blocking rescue from inside.

"So I just ran and got a ladder and my coworker held it and I ran up and got the baby down," he said.

Waggeh said he got the little girl down just in time because there wasn't a lot of room on the ledge.

"She was just calm, pretty calm, just sitting there," he said. "She was trying to get back in, but couldn't so she just sat there."

Police said the toddler moved a piece of cardboard next to the AC unit that was acting as a window guard, CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported.

Neighbors were stunned.

"Who would leave their child actually unattended and not realize that the baby is hanging out the window. What are they doing? said Ella Mae.

Mercedes Aviles -- the child's aunt -- was not home at the time, but said her niece is visiting from Pennsylvania. She is thankful to Waggeh for saving the child's life.

"I'm in shock right now," Aviles said. "Why was she in that sort of place when it happened? How did she get there? I don't know, but at least someone saved her, which is the good part."

Police said the little girl was not injured.

The investigation is ongoing. So far, no charges have been filed in the case.