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Malian 'spiderman' wows France with Paris child rescue Mamoudou Gassama: Mali 'Spiderman' to be made French citizen
(about 1 hour later)
A Malian migrant has been hailed a hero after he scaled the front of a building in Paris to save a small boy hanging from a fourth-floor balcony. A Malian migrant hailed as a hero after mounting a daring rescue to save a small boy dangling from a balcony in Paris is to be made a French citizen.
Video of Mamoudou Gassama's spectacular rescue went viral on social media. Mamoudou Gassama won widespread praise after climbing the outside of the building to save the four-year-old.
In less than a minute he pulled himself from balcony to balcony and grabbed the four-year-old as a neighbour tried to hold the child from an adjoining flat. Video showed him being cheered on by spectators as pulled himself from balcony to balcony to the fourth floor.
President Emmanuel Macron has invited Mr Gassama to the Elysee Palace on Monday to thank him personally. After meeting him at the Elysee Palace, President Emmanuel Macron said he would be made a naturalised citizen.
The drama was captured in a video posted on Facebook. He personally thanked Mr Gassama, gave him a medal for courage and said he would also be offered a role in the fire service.
It unfolded on Saturday evening on a street in the north of the city. The drama unfolded on Saturday evening on a street in the north of the city.
Mr Gassama said he had been walking past when he saw a crowd gathered in front of the building.Mr Gassama said he had been walking past when he saw a crowd gathered in front of the building.
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He told French broadcaster BFMTV when he saw the child dangling from the balcony, "I did not think, I saved him."He told French broadcaster BFMTV when he saw the child dangling from the balcony, "I did not think, I saved him."
"When I took him in my arms, I spoke with him and asked: 'Why did you do that?' But he did not answer.""When I took him in my arms, I spoke with him and asked: 'Why did you do that?' But he did not answer."
The Parisian fire service said crews had arrived to find the boy had already been rescued.The Parisian fire service said crews had arrived to find the boy had already been rescued.
"Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a spokesman told AFP news agency."Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a spokesman told AFP news agency.
Local authorities quoted by French media said the boy's parents were not at home at the time.Local authorities quoted by French media said the boy's parents were not at home at the time.
The father has been questioned by police on suspicion of leaving his child unattended, judicial sources say. The mother was not in Paris at the time, it is believed.The father has been questioned by police on suspicion of leaving his child unattended, judicial sources say. The mother was not in Paris at the time, it is believed.
'Spiderman of the 18th' Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was among those to praise the 22-year-old's heroism and said she had called him to thank him.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo praised the 22-year-old's heroism and said she had called him to thank him. She referred to him as the "Spiderman of the 18th", referring to the Paris district where the rescue took place, calling him an "example for all citizens".
She referred to him as the "Spiderman of the 18th", referring to the Paris district where the rescue took place. In 2015 another Mali-born man, Lassana Bathily, was granted French citizenship after helping hide customers during a hostage situation at a kosher supermarket in Paris.
"Congratulations to Mamoudou Gassama for his act of bravery that saved the life of a child," Ms Hidalgo tweeted.
"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 was an example for all citizens and that the City of Paris will obviously be keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France."