The Internet at the Speed of Thought

Le Héros! French “Spider-Man” Meets President and Wins Citizenship After Saving Child

at5:07 pm | By

One more happy ending

What would you do when faced with potential disaster? Would you rise the occasion or look elsewhere for help?

For one man in Paris last week, there truly was no time to lose when a small child was left dangling over an apartment balcony. The amazing video went viral thanks to its thrilling watch and happy ending, but now there’s more to the story as Mamoudou Gassama is honored for his heroism.

mamoudou gassama french spider man feature

Credit: Thibault Camus/Getty Images; YouTube/Hirwa 10

Springing to Action

Last week, this surreal video went viral after bystanders captured the scene on camera. As a toddler hangs dangerously from a balcony in Paris, a man jumps up from the street and incredibly scales multiple stories until reaching the boy and delivering him to safety.

The toddler had been left home alone and stumbled over the balcony. Neighbors are seen trying to help, but a fence prevented them from getting any closer. The fire department was called to help, but one man knew he had to act fast. That man was Mamoudou Gassama, a 22-year-old Malian immigrant who had just moved to Paris six months ago.

Highest Honors

After the video went viral, Gassama was hailed as a hero and called the “French Spider-Man.” When asked by Le Parisien why he would risk his own life to save the toddler, Mamoudou responded, “I did it because it’s a child.”

Gassama’s act of selflessness and heroism didn’t go unnoticed. Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, tweeted: “Congratulations to Mamoudou Gassama for his brave act that helped save a child’s life last night. I had the pleasure to talk with him today by phone, to thank him warmly.”

But Hidalgo wasn’t the only French politician to take note…

Naturalized Citizen

Credit: Thibault Camus/Getty Images

This week, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Gassama in the Elysee Palace in Paris, where the immigrant told him, “I just didn’t have time to think, I ran across the road to go and save him. I just climbed up and thank God, God helped me. The more I climbed the more I had the courage to climb up higher. That’s it.”

To show his thanks, Macron ordered to have Gassama naturalized as a French citizen. What’s more, Mamoudou was given a job as a fireman in Paris! Seems appropriate to me, and hopefully this is just the start of his wonderful life story with more great news to come.

In the words of Mayor Hidalgo, Mamoudou truly is “an example for all citizens.”

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