Hero ‘Spiderman’ Granted French Citizenship After Amazing Child Rescue

Macron offered Gassama citizenship for his “heroic act” in saving a four-year-old. But his older brother has lived in France for decades, and wants to join him there.

Gassama reaches the child and lifts him to safety – even as he is still astride the balcony.

He later told French President Emmanuel Macon, who invited Gassama to the Elysee Palace to thank him personally, that the decision to climb the building had been a spontaneous one.

Accustomed to keeping his head down and staying out of trouble, Gassama said he didn’t think of his legal status when he sprang to action. “When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing”.

Mamoudou Gassama took just 40 seconds to scale the outside of the building.The family of the boy Mr Gassama rescued have thanked him.

Gassama said he was just walking by when he saw a crowd gathered in front of the building.

The boy was placed in temporary care while the father was in custody, but the two have since been reunited.

The boy’s father, who left him alone in the fourth-floor apartment to go shopping and delayed his return to play Pokemon Go on his smartphone, has appeared before court and faces charges of failing to look after his child, according to local reports.

A couple in the neighbouring apartment, located in Paris’ 18th Arrondissement, were trying to reach the child but were unable to safely lift the boy over to their side.

Hopefully this will serve as a warning to all parents out there that trying to catch an elusive digital made up thing that doesn’t actually exist isn’t a good thing to do when you’re meant to be looking after your child. “You need courage and the capability to do that”.

Mamoudou Gassama told BFM TV that he was watching a football game at a Paris, France restaurant when he heard a commotion, making his way outside where he quickly noticed the child and realized what was happening.

He previously told reporters he acted without thinking.

It took less than 48 hours for French authorities to respond to Gassama’s wish.

Gassama told France 24 that he was with his girlfriend when he saw a child on the fourth floor hanging from a balcony. “I wasn’t thinking about being courageous”.

She said her prayers and gratitude go out to Mr Gassama.

“You have become an example because millions of people have seen you”.