A popular old poem said, 'good fences make good neighbours.' But this family were very glad they had no physical or emotional fences separating them from their neighbours on the day disaster struck.
The family were trapped in an apartment in Russia when an inferno started from pancakes that were left too long on the stove.
With smoke belching from the building, neighbours and passersby gathered and held a sheet underneath for the family to leap unto. (video above)
According to the Independent, the parents threw their children, including an 11-month-old with heart disease, from the apartment before jumping themselves.
It was reported that there were no serious injuries from the recent incident, but Newinform.com said the father was hospitalized. Three other family members were treated for smoke inhalation.
Three fire trucks arrived to put out the blaze shortly after.