Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
A Mali immigrant who rescued a child dangling from a balcony in Paris was honoured by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, 28 May. Macron lauded Mamoudou Gassama and promised him French citizenship and a job as a firefighter.
In a dramatic video, 22-year-old Gassama can be seen rescuing a four-year-old child dangling from a balcony in Paris. Gassama climbed up to the fourth floor and whisked the child to safety.
The video showed him being cheered and lauded by the locals as he pulled himself from balcony to balcony to save the child
I was at my window and I heard cries and I saw a crowd suddenly run to the bottom of the building with sheets. At first, I didn’t understand. I thought it was a suicide attempt, that someone was about to throw themselves from their window and it was only after I arrived at the scene that I saw the young saviour climbing up to the 4th floor. Then he got there and got hold of the child. Everybody was happy because it was impressive. It’s not something that you see every day and that’s why people were impressed.Gwendo Cissoko, Local resident
Gassama's feat went viral on social media, where he was praised and called ‘Spiderman’ for climbing from balcony to balcony to rescue the child, in Paris' northern 18th district.
He’s someone who came from far away to rescue someone who comes from here. For us, here in the neighbourhood, it’s something that makes us very happy because beyond undocumented migrants, there’s a great energy in the neighbourhood.Nicolas De Ruel, Local resident
Gassama told President Macron that he noticed a crowd gathered in front of the building. "I just didn't have time to think, I ran across the road to go and save him”, Gassama added. He was also awarded a certificate of bravery.
(With inputs from AP)
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