Malian immigrant who rescued baby on Paris balcony meets Macron, offered job, French citizenship
A22-year-old man played the modern-day spider-man’s role when he climbed up the balustrade of a Paris storey building to rescue a baby who was clinging from the fourth floor.
The video of the man climbing swiftly up the floors till he picked the baby to safety has since gone viral on social media. He has been identified as a Malian migrant called Mamoudou Gassama.
For his heroics, he met with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace yesterday morning. The Mayor of Paris has also said she will help Mamoudou to secure French citizenship given his status as an undocumented migrant.
“A great bravo to Mamoudou Gassama for his bravery that saved the life of a child last night. I was pleased to speak with him today by telephone, in order to thank him warmly,” Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a tweet.
She added: “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 his efforts to establish himself in France.”
Speaking to a Paris-based media outlet, Gassama explained that at a time when cars were honking and other people were wailing, he thought of a solution to the situation. “That is why I decided to climb up and thanks to God, God save him,” he said.
Apart from the French citizenship, he has also been offered a job. The rescuer has been nicknamed ‘modern day spider man’ by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.
French President Emmanuel Macron honoured the hero in his office. Macron tweeted via @Emmanuelmacaron: “Gassama would be rewarded for his selflessness and humanitarian service.
“With Mr. Ganesh who on Saturday saved the life of a child by climbing four stories with bare hands. I told him that in recognition of this heroic act he was going to be regulated as soon as possible, and that the fire brigade of Paris was ready to welcome him,” he said.
It was reported that the boy’s parents weren’t at home at the time of the incident. The mother was said not to be in Paris while the father has been held for questioning by the police. He would be due in court soon for leaving his child at home alone.