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Xiao Qi, 38, an English teacher at No 11 Senior High School in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, didn't hesitate to open his arms to catch a 6-year-old girl who fell from a third-floor window on Sunday as she leaned out to call to her grandfather.
On Wednesday, the girl, Mei Qingwen, was in the intensive care unit of No 1 Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, with kidney and lung damage and skull fractures, according to her grandmother, Yu Huilan. But the girl's condition seemed to be improving.
"Fortunately, my granddaughter is now out of danger and has regained consciousness," Yu said. "The doctor said Xiao's heroic action greatly reduced the damage."
Xiao explained the details:
"On Sunday afternoon, as I was on my way home, I saw a girl leaning out the window on a building's third floor," he said. "I attempted to warn her with a loud shout, but she looked flustered and didn't seem to be listening."
Mei was born with a hearing disability and only learned to speak after undergoing cochlear implant surgery to provide some sound through a tiny electrical device.
But the implant was out of power at the time, so she couldn't hear Xiao.
"I was not thinking about anything," Xiao continued. "I acted on instinct to save her life."
Xiao sustained minor injuries to his arm as a result of the forceful impact of the catch. He was able to slow her descent considerably but couldn't hold on.
"If I had caught her better, maybe she would be less seriously injured," he said with evident remorse.
Xiao dialed the emergency 120 number and left without a word after the ambulance arrived.
