Man, 26, who saved boy from 3rd storey ledge in Canberra, says he just wanted child to be safe

"I wasn't scared when I climbed up; it only hit me as I came back down," said 26-year-old Sa Thu Ya Aung, the man who rescued a boy from the third storey ledge of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Canberra.

On Oct. 20, members of the public were shocked to see a young boy standing precariously on the ledge of the building.

Among them was Aung, who recounted feeling an overwhelming sense of concern.

"It was like looking at my nieces and nephews — I was very worried," the Myanmar national told Mothership in Burmese.

Was on his way to church

Aung was on his way to a church event when he noticed a crowd gathering near the foot of the block.

Curious, he went over to investigate and was stunned to see the boy on the ledge.

Although bystanders assured him that the authorities had been called, Aung couldn’t shake the fear that something might happen before help arrived.

Having just moved to Singapore a year ago, Aung was also worried about the local laws and regulations if he stepped in to help.

Realising the urgency of the situation, however, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He quickly coordinated with another man and decided to climb up to the child.

No time for fear

"I wasn’t scared while climbing — I just kept thinking about the boy," Aung said when asked if he felt afraid.

When he reached the ledge, Aung carefully approached the child, worried that any sudden movement might startle the boy and cause him to fall.

Fortunately, the child remained calm and reached out his hands to Aung, who grabbed him immediately.

"I was relieved to finally have him in my hands," Aung said. "He wasn’t crying or scared, but his body was cold."

Discovered a sleeping adult inside

After securing the boy, Aung knocked on the windows closest to him but received no response.

Holding the child close, he carefully edged toward an open window at the far end.

Peeking inside, Aung saw a toddler playing with toys and a woman asleep on a sofa directly beneath the window.

"I called out to her four or five times, but she didn’t wake up," Aung recalled. "So, I had to bang on the sofa and grab her blanket to get her attention."

The woman startled awake and he asked her if the child was hers, to which she nodded.

Aung handed the child to her, though he didn’t get a clear look at her face as he was focused on keeping the boy safe.

The woman thanked him, but did not invite him inside.

"She was understandably surprised and confused," Aung explained.

Worried that he may be breaking local laws if he entered the flat, Aung decided to climb back down the way he came despite the onlookers urging him to go in.

Praised and complimented

Once he reached the ground, the full weight of what he had done finally hit him.

Thankfully, Aung emerged uninjured.

Despite the praise and compliments he received for his brave actions, Aung remained humble.

"I just wanted to help the kid," he said simply.

After the ordeal, Aung quietly resumed his day, heading off to the church event as planned.

Woman assisting in investigations

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) previously told Mothership that the child was conveyed to KK Women's and Children's Hospital as a precautionary measure.

Police also told Mothership that a 25-year-old woman is assisting with police investigations into a case of negligent act and investigations are ongoing.

SCDF added that they will be reaching out to commend members of public who rendered assistance during the incident for their public spiritedness.

Top photos from Nela M Hock/Facebook and Sa Thu Ya Aung/Facebook