Malian immigrant gains French citizenship after rescuing child on balcony.

Da RFI - Mamadou Gassama, the new French hero, is a Malian immigrant who arrived in the Parisian capital in September. This Saturday (27), he climbed four floors with his hands and prevented a 4-year-old boy from falling from a balcony of a building located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris.

On Monday morning (28), Mamadou Gassama was received by French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced that he would become a French citizen and join the fire brigade. "It is an exceptional act, and therefore, from today, all your documents will be regularized and we will start a process so that you can obtain your French citizenship," said the head of state, who has been criticized for hardening the policy towards illegal immigrants, favoring expulsions. "You have become an example for many people, it is normal for the nation to show its recognition."

Tous mes respects au héros #MamoudouGassamaThis #Paperless originating malienne which gave me the courage to climb the 5th stage of an immeuble in the 18th arrondissement of #Paris, to save a 4 year old child suspended at the video, ouf!!!! #SachezLe #ABoraMaliLa pic.twitter.com/82mEX886NH

— Almamy Mam KANOUTÉ (@barbpanther) 27 May 2018

 

The 22-year-old's act of bravery was filmed and moved the French, who honored him in numerous messages on social media. The video went viral and had millions of views. The images are astonishing: in about 30 seconds, Mamadou climbed the building using only the strength of his arms and saved the child, as recounted by a young Frenchman who witnessed the scene. "I was passing by, I looked up and saw this man climbing the building. Around him, people were applauding, unable to believe what they were seeing."

Mamadou Gassama said he acted without thinking, "because it was a child and he really likes children." He says he didn't assess the risk. "I heard the horns, the cars around honking, I crossed the street to save him and thank God I succeeded," he declared. To the newspaper "Le Parisien", the Malian immigrant said that "he goes to the gym, runs frequently and plays football".

In an interview with BFMTV, the young man, who lives in a shelter, also said he felt scared after saving the child. "I went into the apartment's living room and started trembling. I had to sit down and asked the boy why he had done that silly thing. He didn't answer me." The boy was then treated by the fire department, who attributed the feat to Mamadou's "excellent physical condition." The boy escaped unharmed, only losing a fingernail. The young Malian man suffered only minor scratches.

Father left son alone at home.

An investigation has been opened by the police to look into the case. The child's father, 36, was detained for questioning. He stated that he had left the boy alone at home for "a few minutes" to go shopping, and that his son climbed onto the balcony and became locked out. The mother was not at home. The court has temporarily removed custody of the boy from the family.

After the feat, requests to regularize the young Malian's status multiplied on the internet. Politicians, celebrities, and the SOS Racism association asked Interior Minister Gérard Collomb to regularize the situation of the nation's new hero.