Senegalese hero gets Spanish passport
A LOCAL hero who rescued a wheelchair-bound man from his burning flat just before Christmas has been granted Spanish nationality at the request of the ministry for justice.
Gorgui Lamine Sow, 21, saw Álex Caudeli, 38, shouting for help from his balcony, where he was trapped by the flames. He scrambled up the façade with his bare hands and carried him – and his dog - to safety, then caught his bus home to Gandia (La Safor) after ensuring the terrified Álex was okay.
The Senegalese migrant had finished his long day's thankless cash-in-hand work selling cheap souvenirs in Dénia port, which he did from dawn until dusk seven days a week – just as many other Africans who survive the perilous journey to Europe do in order to feed their families.
He and his wife, Gana, and their one-year-old daughter Ndeye, rent a small room in a shared Gandia flat. Gorgui's earnings fall far short of the tax threshold and do not stretch to cover the fixed-rate self-employment social security fee.
This meant he, like others in his situation, could not apply for residency and faced all the difficulties that being an undocumented migrant brings.
But saving Álex's life changed Gorgui's own; a mass local authority and resident-led campaign, and a whip-round to cover his costs, has meant he was able to to get residency for himself, his wife and Spanishborn child on the grounds of public interest.
From Superman to fireman
Gorgui said at the time he was hoping to pursue his dream of becoming a lorry-driver and renting a flat for his family, but now the couple is officially Spanish, his ambitions have swelled; he wants to train to be a fire fighter.
Finding a 'proper, legal job' is 'extremely difficult', he says, but he will soon need a regular wage if he can find one. He has just discovered he is about to be a dad for the second time.
Gana is six months' pregnant with another little girl, Gorgui explains.
“It's been really hard [during lockdown],” admits Gorgui, who has been in Spain for three years and now proudly walks around wearing a T-shirt with 'España' emblazoned across it.
“We got emergency benefits of €380 a month for two months.
“Now, though, I'd like to be given a chance to have a stable job, but in the meantime, I want to start studying to be a fireman.
“I love living here and want to build a future here with my family.”
Álex, who gave Gorgui, Gana and Ndeye 'Superman' T-shirts during their emotional reunion after the fire, is still in touch with the family.
“We talk to each other regularly – we haven't lost contact,” Gorgui explains.
Far from feeling like a 'Superman', though, the determined, resourceful young man believes it was his lucky day when he was 'given the opportunity' to rescue Álex and his dog.
“There was a person trapped in there, and I had to get them out,” he says, simply.
“What I did has brought me loads of luck.
“It was all dark and full of smoke in there; it was dangerous. But I had to get Álex and his dog out any way I could.”