A Malian undocumented immigrant in France has bagged the French citizenship for his heroic act. Mamoudou Gassama, 22, rescued a young boy in a spider-man-like act from falling from the balcony of a fourth-floor Paris flat.
His extraordinary feat of strength and bravery that has earned him the nickname “Le Spider-Man”, he pulled himself up from balcony to balcony, before lifting the crying four-year-old to safety.
After the video of his courageous act went viral, he was invited to the Élysée Palace where he met President Emmanuel Macron who promised to allow him to stay, get him documented and a fast-track his process to gain French nationality. He was also offered a job with the Paris sapeurs pompiers, the city’s fire and emergency service.
President Macron gave Gassama a medal for an act of “bravery and devotion”, signed by the police prefect and declaring the French Republic’s gratitude.
Gassama with a certificate of courage and dedication at the Élysée Palace.
