An elderly man slipped from his balcony in Madrid and was able to hold onto the railing. Despite the social distancing measures amid the quarantine, neighbors were quick to respond for help.
On April 19, a video captured the 70-year-old man hanging from his 2nd floor balcony. The reports identified the man as Juan Pena. Bibliotodo reported that it was his wife and daughter that held him and prevented him from falling. But they were not strong enough to pull him back up. They were shouting for help for neighbors to notice. Fortunately, residents from the area heard the cry and immediately took action.
Aún en tiempo de confinamiento, SOLIDARIDAD CIUDADANA.???????????? pic.twitter.com/aV9UKfkVb6
— Alfredo Perdiguero M. ???????? (@PerdigueroSIPEp) April 18, 2020
Elderly Man Hanging From His Balcony
Two neighbors climbed the building as fast as they could to hold onto the old man while another group of neighbors carried a mattress below to cushion a possible fall. Before the two women lost their strength, the climbers were able to hold and support Pena from the railing. They gently lowered him from their floor in the building to the mattress waiting in the ground.
“Dad, look at me. Open your eyes,” the daughter shouted.
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Their teamwork and quick wits saved the man from meeting a tragic end. The rescued ended with cheers and applause from the neighborhood.
It was still unclear how Pena ended up hanging from their balcony but there were no reports of injury from the accident.
Madrid on lockdown
Madrid, Spain, had gradually eased their lockdown. The Jakarta Post reported that Spain’s four-step procedure for lifting the quarantine is expected to finish by the end of June according to the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The preparatory phase started on April 26 when Spain permitted children to go out on walks with one parent for only one hour. On May 2, the rest of the population will be allowed to go out for walks and exercises.
Reference: Metro News