Child caught by neighbor after falling three storeys!

LAWRENCE, Maine - March 30, 2009 - At 6:30 last night, Robert Lemire was chatting on his cell phone, talking about coaching his daughter's softball team this spring.

But when he looked across the street, Lemire quickly realized someone else's daughter was going to need his help first.

A child was dangling out of a third-story window at 700 Haverhill Street, and Lemire, without thinking about his own safety, bolted across the busy street to help the toddler. Then, with help from Alex Day, another Good Samaritan, the two men caught 11/2-year-old Caliah Clark as she fell about 40 feet into their waiting arms.

"I've only seen something like that on TV," said Lemire, a Methuen father of two girls, ages 13 and 16.

Police last night credited the hustle of the two men with saving the girl as she hung from the apartment window.

"The quick response, the calls for help. These guys are heroes, no question about it," said police Chief John Romero.

The girl was taken to Lawrence General Hospital for evaluation, but police don't believe she suffered any serious injuries. As required by law, the Department of Social Services was immediately notified about the accident and is expected to investigate.

"She's lucky. Everybody is lucky," said Lemire, 45, a remodeling contractor.

Lemire said he had stopped on Haverhill Street and was going to order supper from a nearby pizza joint. As he was chatting outside on his cell phone, the first thing he noticed, as he looked across the street, were toys being thrown out of the apartment at 700 Haverhill Street, a large Victorian-style home.

Then, he saw the third-floor window was wide open and a little girl was hanging outside. Two other kids were holding onto her by her arms as she dangled outside the window.

Lemire said he bolted across busy Haverhill Street, nearly getting hit by a car. He yelled for help.

Day, 23, who was attending a Bible study meeting inside 700 Haverhill Street, heard someone yelling outside and fearing a fire had ignited, he jumped up to see what was going on.

He soon met Lemire, who pointed to the side of the house "where there was a child hanging out the window," Day told police. Lemire "was just going frantic trying to get her," Day said last night.

Both men ran around the house and stood underneath Caliah, who suddenly fell into their arms. Day caught the top of her body, while Lemire grabbed the lower half.

"As soon as I told him what was happening, we both looked up and there she came," Lemire said.

When Lemire dialed 911 for help, he said his "fingers were numb."