Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 1 officially granted Nguyen Ngoc Manh, a Hanoi resident, a merit certificate for his heroic deed.

Manh saved a little girl, born in 2018, who fell off the 12th floor of an apartment building in Hanoi.

Manh saved a little girl falling off the 12th floor of an apartment building in Hanoi. Photo: Tienphong

On February 28, the unsupervised toddler named N.P.H climbed over the balcony of her family’s home on the 12th floor of Nguyen Huy Tuong Apartment Complex in Thanh Xuan district. She managed to grab the railings but let go just several seconds after.

At the time, Nguyen Ngoc Manh, who was on a courier run in the complex, spotted the girl and quickly climbed onto the first floor’s roof to catch her.

The little girl was rushed to hospital where X-ray results showed she had a dislocated hip joint and several broken bones, but no further trauma.

"I didn’t think about it much back then, but now I'm happy for doing something meaningful. After saving the girl, I left without leaving a phone number, though the girl’s family managed to contact me anyway to inform me of the girl’s health status," Manh said.

The prime minister asked the Hanoi People’s Committee and relevant agencies to promptly honor Manh and spread his good deeds in the community.

A letter of honor from Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue also acknowledged Nguyen Ngoc Manh’s courageous act.

In his letter, the municipal Party chief hails Manh’s bravery, and hopes that Manh will continue to uphold his sense of courage and social responsibility, and do more good activities for the community, contributing to building a peaceful, friendly, prosperous and civilized life in the capital city.

Besides, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh on March 1 decided to praise and award Manh for his brave action.

Daily Mail, a British newspaper, praises Manh's courageous act. Photo: Anh Kiet

Manh is humble about his brave act and said: 'I don't see myself as a hero. I just want to do good.'

The UK newspapers, Independent and Daily Mail, also praised Nguyen Ngoc Manh as a "hero" after saving the toddler.

"The father-of one reacted instinctively and raced out of his car and climbed onto a tile roof at the bottom level of the building to get into a better position to be able to catch the girl," the Daily Mail wrote.