A man who scaled a four storey building to save a child dangling from a balcony has been labelled a hero by the people of France.
Mamoudou Gassama, aged 22, was praised for climbing an apartment block in Paris, and risking his life to save a four-year-old, who would’ve fallen to his death if not for his heroic efforts.
The Malian immigrant has been dubbed the real-life Spider-Man and has even been invited to the Elysee Palace by President Macron.
Footage of the dramatic rescue was filmed and posted on social media – it took Gassama only 30 seconds to reach the unnamed child in peril.
According to the MailOnline people are comparing him to Marvel’s very own wall-crawler Spiderman/Peter Paker.
The incident, which took place last Saturday, (May 26) in the Northern area of Paris, saw Gassama scale the building without a thought for his safety as he made a valiant attempt to reach the child.
The footage shows him literally pulling himself up each floor with his bare hands, while a neighbour desperately tries to keep hold of the dangling child.
By the time Gassama reached the fourth floor, he was able to pull himself over the other side and safely secure the child -all before the emergency services arrived.
Gassama only arrived in France a few months ago in the hopes ‘of building his life’, so you can imagine being invited to the Elysee Palace by the President of France is an honour he never expected.
Furthermore, Paris’ Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, has promised to help the modest hero settle down in France.
A witness who was at the scene told French newspaper Le Parisien:
There is a fence and a gap between them… The neighbour could not afford to lean back to get the child himself.
According to reports the child only suffered a torn nail while Gassama picked up a few minor scratches. An investigation is now underway as to how the child got themselves into such a dangerous predicament.
Speaking to AFP, one of the firemen who arrived late on the scene said:
Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child.
Hidalgo took to Twitter to praise Gassama’s efforts, and in a series of posts wrote:
This brave and courageous man saved a child’s life at the peril of his own.
I wish, like many Parisians, to know who is the Spiderman of the 18th to congratulate him. [sic]
After she found out Gassama’s identity she followed up her post, saying:
He explained to me that he had arrived from Mali a few months ago, dreaming of building his life here.
I replied that his heroic gesture is an example for all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be committed to supporting him in his efforts to establish himself in France.
She also confirmed she’d spoken to him on the phone to praise him for the ‘bravery that saved the life of a child’.
Gassama, who’ll be honoured today by President Macron, told reporters:
I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child.
I felt afraid when I saved the child… (when) we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down.
Well done Mamoudou, enjoy your special day because you deserve it.
Update:
It has been announced that Mamoudou Gassama will be made an honorary French citizen following his heroic efforts.
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