9-year-old boy honored for saving baby brother who fell from changing table

Home surveillance captures Joseph Levi catching brother

MIAMI – A 9-year-old boy was honored Thursday by the Do The Right Thing Program and Miami police, months after he saved his baby brother who fell from a changing table in their Miami Beach home.

Joseph Levi was all smiles as he was acknowledged for his heroic deed.

"At first, I was really nervous, but then when I saw the video, I saw that it was really cool that I just went and I caught him," Joseph said.

Surveillance video from the family's home shows Tila Levi turning her back for a few seconds to tend to another child, when her  11-month-old baby rolled off his changing table.

Joseph dashed over to catch his brother, Eitan, before the baby could hit the floor.

"It was really a miracle, the way he fell (and) how he caught him," Levi said. "When he walked in, it was like perfect timing in every sense of the word."

The changing table was 4 feet high, and Joseph is credited with saving his baby brother from what could have been some critical injuries. 

"When I was passing by the room, I saw that he was rolling off, so I just went and I caught him," Joseph said. "I didn't even know that I could run that fast, so I just ran, and I caught him." 

Joseph, along with nine other children, were honored by the nonprofit organization that recognizes positive accomplishments among school-aged kids.

Joseph said he thinks his new award is cool, while his mom is thankful that her son was at the right place at the right time.

"I'm so proud of him. I can't believe that he got picked out of so many kids in South Florida," Levi said. "I'm so excited for him that he is being recognized in our city. It's a big deal." 

As the top 10 winners for the month of January, the students will be awarded with mini tablets, plaques and other prizes for "doing the right thing."


About the Author:

Sanela Sabovic joined Local 10 News in September 2012 as an assignment editor and associate producer. In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University.