Update: The toddler who was rescued dangling from a balcony was reportedly left home alone because his father was playing “Pokémon Go” reports CNN.
Prosecutor Francois Molins told the network the father went shopping and then began playing the game all the while leaving the child to fend for himself.
Original story: Mamoudou Gassama is being called a real-life "Spiderman" after a viral clip shows him scaling the side of a building to save a dangling child. In what looks like an act of superhuman capabilities, Gassama can be seen very quickly climbing up the building before pulling the 4-year-old to safety.
This man did not hesitate a second, risked his life and saved the kid! #truehero
#spiderman
#paris ???? pic.twitter.com/u1fvid3i1j— Fred (@FredBC77) May 27, 2018
The heroic deed took place on Saturday afternoon (May 26) in Paris, France's 18th district and has since gained the 22-year-old international recognition. According to French news station La Chaîne Info, the video was originally posted to Snapchat before being posted to Facebook where it now has nearly 10 million views.
It’s unclear how the child ended up in the dangerous predicament, although he was reportedly left alone in the apartment. His father, who has since been placed into police custody, claims that the glass door was closed. However, that fails to explain how the child still found a way onto the balcony. Upon the child being spotted, firefighters were dispatched. By the time they arrived, Gassama had already saved the day.
In an interview with news channel BFM Paris, Gassama explained that the split decision to grab the child was made after hearing people scream and cars honking.
"I like children, I would have hated to see him getting hurt in front of me. I ran and I looked for solutions to save him and thank God I scaled the front of the building to the balcony," he said.
Enfant sauvé à Paris: "J'ai réussi à attraper le balcon, et Dieu merci, je l'ai sauvé ", témoigne le héros pic.twitter.com/dI9ALB5JWc
— BFM Paris (@BFMParis) May 27, 2018
Further interviews revealed Gassama is actually Malian, only coming to Paris months before.
"He explained to me that he arrived from Mali a few months ago while dreaming of building his life here. I replied that his heroic gesture is an example for all citizens and that the City of Paris will obviously be keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France," Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted, according to a translation to English from French.
Un grand bravo à Mamoudou Gassama pour son acte de bravoure qui a permis de sauver hier soir la vie d'un enfant. J'ai eu plaisir à m'entretenir avec lui aujourd'hui par téléphone, afin de le remercier chaleureusement. https://t.co/DP5vQ1VZYh
— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) May 27, 2018
CNN reports that French President Emmanuel Macron invited Gassama to the Elysee Palace on Monday, where he was given a certificate and a gold medal for performing an act of courage and dedication.
"I didn't think about it, I climbed up and God helped me," Gassama told Macron.
Now, the office of the French presidency has made him a French citizen and offered him a job at the Paris fire brigade.
"With Mr. GASSAMA who saved Saturday the life of a child climbing 4 floors with bare hands. I announced to him that in recognition of this heroic act he would be regularized as soon as possible and that the brigade of the firemen of Paris was ready to receive it. I also invited him to apply for naturalization. Because France is a will, and Mr. GASSAMA has demonstrated with commitment that he had it!" Macron said, according to a French to English translation.
Blessings!
