DETROIT – Four brothers became local heroes after rescuing two toddlers from a dangerous situation on a roof in their neighborhood.
Isaiah and Elijah Christopher said they were walking to the hardware store when they noticed two small children on a rooftop.
“We was walking past going to the store. We seen some little kids on a roof. We ran over to check where they was at,” said Isaiah.
The brothers quickly realized the children were in danger.
“I was just scared,” said Elijah. “I didn’t know that I was going to be heralded as a hero on the Fourth of July.”
Isaiah said he and Elijah ran towards a woman who was a neighbor, who told them to get back while she went to grab a ladder.
The woman wanted to climb the ladder, according to Isaiah, but their older brothers, Calvin and Jabari Jackson, decided to climb the ladder themselves to save the toddlers.
Calvin held the ladder steady while Jabari, who climbed onto the roof despite being scared of heights, described the moment.
“I was really scared at first, but I just balled it (my fears) and threw it out the window so I can get this kid safe.”
The brothers acted fast, setting up a ladder while Jabari was able to put the children back inside through a window.
Calvin said, “My big brother climbed up there and put the kids back in the window. I went to knock on the door, and nobody answered, so our little brothers went to knock on a window, but they didn’t answer.”
The children who were crawling on the roof were one and two years old.
When asked about their feelings during the rescue, Jabair said he wasn’t scared, as he was more anxious and shocked as to how the toddlers got on the roof of the house.
Although he was afraid of heights, Jabari said he was determined to get those babies back inside the house and off the roof.
Calvin said he and his brothers saw a man peek out of the window twice during the amazing save of the toddlers, but they were confused as to why the man didn’t answer the door.
The Detroit fire and police departments have praised the brothers for their bravery, as all four are being heralded as heroes.
Calvin said, “It’s heartwarming that I can be called a hero in the city of Detroit. Especially as young kids, too.”
The brothers hope their story inspires others to act in emergencies.