4-year-old saved by spiderman
Migrant’s heroic climb is rewarded with citizenship and job as fireman
AN immigrant climbed a block of flats to save a boy dangling from a fourth-floor balcony.
Heroic Mamoudou Gassama, 22 – dubbed the Spider-Man of Paris – scaled the building in 30 seconds to pull the four-year-old to safety.
He was offered French citizenship yesterday after meeting President Emmanuel Macron.
The Malian will also be given a job as a fireman, if he wants it, said the Paris Mayor.
Mr Gassama went into action when he saw a crowd of people shouting at the flats and the lad clinging on to a railing 50ft up.
A man from another flat was holding the boy’s hand from the next balcony, but he was close to falling.
Mr Gassama quickly clambered from balcony to balcony, putting his own life at risk to save the boy. He said: “I did it because it’s a child.
“I felt afraid when I saved the child... we went into the living room, I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down.” The only injury sustained by the little boy was a torn nail.
Mr Gassama told the president he had arrived without papers a few months ago “dreaming to build his life”.
He said: “I left Mali, passing through Burkina-Faso and Nigeria. It was very difficult.” He finally reached Libya, where he became one of the thousands who pay people-smugglers to take them across the Mediterranean.
“It was terrible on the boat. There were so many of us, a lot of people,” he added.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo rang the young migrant. She said: “I told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will be very keen to support him.”
Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said at the time the boy’s dad was shopping then played Pokemon Go in the street. He added: “He is very upset because he realises what could have happened.” He is due in court. The child’s mother was not in Paris.