Mamoudou Gassama became an overnight sensation as a viral video of him climbing a 4-storey building to rescue a child has drawn millions of people, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron invited Gassama to the Élysée Palace where he was promised a fast track process to gain a French nationality, following the feat that earned him the monicker “Le Spider-Man.” He was also provided documents allowing him to stay, despite formerly being an undocumented migrant.
The Guardian report adds that as Gassama recollected his acts, he forgot worrying about everything and just took it to himself to save the child that was dangling out of the balcony. “There were people shouting and honking their horns … I didn’t think of anything, I ran across the road directly to save him. Thank God I saved him,” said Gassama.
Gassama received a medal for his act of “bravery and devotion,” signed by the police prefect, that declares the French Republic’s gratitude. He was also offered a job with Paris’ fire and emergency service, probably a fitting job.
In Twitter, Macron said that because of Gassama’s heroic act, his status will be made official with a residency card.
Meanwhile, the father of the child was put in jail overnight for alleged parental neglect. Police state that the mother wasn’t in Paris at the time. The boy is now in the custody of social services. Reportedly, the father left the child alone.
