An 8-month-old baby girl miraculously survived a fall from a 15th-floor balcony in New York City after her mother, who was pushed off with her, died while holding her tightly and cushioning the impact.
According to police, 23-year-old Nathaly Ramirez was carrying her daughter when her ex-boyfriend, 31-year-old Angel Carrasco, pushed them from the balcony of a residential building in the Bronx. The incident happened at around 3:38 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Investigators believe Ramirez may have used her body to shield her daughter during the fall, absorbing some of the impact and potentially saving the infant’s life.
Emergency responders found the mother and daughter on the ground outside the apartment building. Both were rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, where Ramirez was pronounced dead. Her daughter survived despite initially being listed in critical condition.
By Thursday, Oct. 8, the infant’s condition had improved to stable. She was later transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center for specialized care.
Witnesses described hearing screams and desperate pleas from Ramirez shortly before the fall. Neighbors said the young mother had been begging for her baby’s safety as an argument unfolded inside the apartment.
Police arrested Carrasco on Wednesday night in connection with the deadly incident. He faces multiple criminal charges, including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and assault.
Carrasco was later filmed smiling while police escorted him from a New York City precinct in handcuffs, drawing angry reactions from bystanders.
The investigation remains ongoing as the surviving infant continues receiving medical care. Investigators suspect that Ramirez’s body helped cushion the impact, allowing her daughter to survive a fall that took her mother’s life.
