Man scales building with bare hands to save boy

A man in northwest China risked his own life scaling an apartment building to save a boy who was dangling out of a fourth floor window, winning the hearts of Chinese netizens.

The incident happened in Yining, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on February 11, Xinhua news agency reported.

The boy was in danger of falling as he clung to the outside of the building crying for his father.

In the video footage of the incident, a young man wearing a short sleeved top and slippers can be seen climbing to the third floor with his bare hands and lifting the boy from above before pulling him to safety with the cooperation of a policeman.

The heroic man then left the scene without leaving his name. He was finally recognized by someone in a house owners' group after the video of his actions was shared online.

The 29-year-old hero, Ma Yanyun, lives in a building opposite the boy and was the first person to spot the heart-stopping situation.

To rescue the dangling boy in time, he even neglected to put his clothes on before rushing out of his home — the outside temperature was minus 9 degrees Celsius.

Ma shouted for help, which attracted some neighbors who quickly assembled below the boy on the ground with sheets to catch him if he fell while others called police.

After the video of his rescue effort hit the Internet, many Chinese netizens gave their thumbs-up to Ma, with some remarking that his actions melted their hearts in such cold weather.

But the modest man insisted it was nothing. He also thanked the other neighbors who lent a helping hand, including a man who squatted down to let him climb on his shoulder.