Paris: 'Spiderman' saves child hanging from balcony, gets French citizenship
What's the story
Move aside Tom Holland, the Internet has fallen in love with a new 'spiderman' who risked his life and saved a dangling child from a balcony in Paris.
The man identified as Mamoudou Gassama scaled four floors in a matter of seconds on Saturday.
Perplexed onlookers recorded his action and video went viral.
French President Emmanuel Macron met Gassama, a refugee, and offered him citizenship.
A hero
Paris mayor renames Gassama 'Spiderman of the 18th'
22-year-old Gassama leaned across a neighboring balcony and pulled the child toward him.
The fire-fighters reached the spot after Gassama rescued baby. "Luckily, there was someone who was physically fit and who had the courage to go and get the child," a fire spokesperson told AFP.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo thanked Gassama and called him "Spiderman of the 18th", the district where the accident happened.
Quote
Thank God I saved the child, says the hero
"I saw all these people shouting, and cars sounding their horns. I climbed up like that and, thank God, I saved the child. I felt afraid. I started to shake, I could hardly stand up, I had to sit down," Gassama said.
Twitter Post
Here's the video of Gassama saving the child
Holy shit, this guy is amazing. What a hero. https://t.co/XVWbaULkFp pic.twitter.com/hHnF150XL5
— Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) May 27, 2018
Hero rewarded
Macron gives Gassama French citizenship and a job at fire-brigade
Gassama, a native of Mali, came to France a few months ago hoping for a new life.
He was invited to President Macron's residence at the Elysee Palace on Monday. He got a certificate for his courage signed by Paris police chief Michel Delpuech.
Macron gave him an honorary citizenship as well as a job in the fire brigade.
Not all heroes wear capes!
Twitter Post
Gassama gets a lot of love on Twitter
Omg, he’s the hero, what an amazing action! Medical staff said both baby #Gassama were suffering shock. Just extraordinary, he just sprung into action, with zero regard for his own life. Look at those arms, that’s how he got up there so fast. Bravo! https://t.co/7OflBu2poU
— Emily Kinder 🦋 🌏 🐬 (@EmilyKinder11) May 28, 2018