African Immigrant Climbs 4 Storeys With His Bare Hands In Less Than 30 Secs To Save 4-Year-Old Dangling From Balcony
Six months ago Mamoudou Gassama, 22, was back in his home country of Mali, dreaming of following in the footsteps of many of his countrymen to build a new life in Paris. Now, the undocumented immigrant is being hailed as a hero, and will today meet the President amid calls for him to receive his papers and be allowed to officially settle in France.
It all started on Saturday afternoon, as Mamoudou was walking home from the famous Gare du Nord railway station. He came across a panicked crowd of people, looking on with terror as a 4-year-old boy was dangling precariously from a balcony, four storeys up. Without a thought for his personal safety, Mamoudou leapt into action and began to climb the building with incredible ease, something which has earned him the nickname ‘spiderman.’
Speaking to Le Parisien, Mamoudou explained what was going through his mind during his daring rescue. “I did not think of the floors, I did not think of the risk,” he said. “I did it because it’s a child. I really like children.”
In addition to a personal ‘merci’ from President Macron, Mamoudou also received congratulations from the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, who posted on Twitter: “Congratulations to Mamoudou Gassama for his brave act that helped save a child’s life last night. I had the pleasure to talk with him today by phone, to thank him warmly.”
It seems like Mamoudou’s selfless act has endeared him to the French nation, and will go a long way toward helping him settle in the country. “He explained to me that he arrived from Mali a few months ago while dreaming of building his life here,” Hidalgo also explained. “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.”
Scroll down to check out the amazing video for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
This Malian man recently became the hero of the day
When he came across a panicked crowd of people, looking on with terror as a 4-year-old boy was dangling precariously from a balcony
Four storeys up
Mamoudou leapt into action and began to climb the building with incredible ease, something which has earned him the nickname ‘spiderman’
“I did not think of the floors, I did not think of the risk”
“I did it because it’s a child”
“I really like children”
His heroic act of bravery has endeared him to the French nation
Watch the whole video to see the crowd cheering him
After the video went viral, even the president wants to meet him
Update: Macron has since met Gassama and he retold the story to the president of how he saved the boy
Image credits: Getty Images
“I ran. I crossed the street to save him,” he told Macron:
After the talk, Macron offered Gassama citizenship for his “heroic act” in saving this four-year-old
Image credits: Getty Images
People could not express their gratitude more
597Kviews
Share on FacebookProps to the man for jumping in without hesitating. I'm so glad this wasn't in the US. Someone might've shot him on the way up claiming trespassing.
French President Macron met him this morning : he will be helped to gain french citizenship, and is willing to join the Paris Firemen
They're going to save lots of money on fire ladders... 😂 What an amazing man!!!
Load More Replies...People shouldn't criticise the neighbours. They came out and reached over to hold the boy until "spiderman" got there. If they'd tried to climb around the partition to the boy's balcony they may have knocked him off.
From my viewing of it the neighbour had a grasp of the child's arm and would likely have had him back onto the balcony in another few seconds. Not to take anything from Mamoudou's courage though - he was brilliant!
Load More Replies...People think immigrants just want to come and steal your jobs and stuff but they just want to better life than they had before coming here. They DO contribute to society
Here in the US 90% of citizens are descendants of immigrants or slaves. Some of us trace our families back 400 years, but most of us had ancestors arrive here in the last 80-150 years. Some came with wealth. Most free men & women came in poverty, looking for a job. Many more came as slaves captured in Africa or as indentured servants from Europe.
Load More Replies...This is the first Bored Panda story that I have seen with such negative, opinionated, political comments. This is a sad day. I read BP to get away from this s**t.
you must be new then... sometimes it can get pretty thrilling here in comment section.
Load More Replies...a real-life hero.. here in the U.S. some of our leaders and citizens forget that we are a nation of immigrants. This used to be what made the U.S. great - that a nation of people of all different backgrounds and beliefs could come together to work for benefit of all involved, not just those at the top.... it's sad and alarming.
To heck with Spiderman, this guy is our next Assassin's Creed protagonist.
Do you know that was all a play that was set up long before.... it makes my sick 🤮
Franta ! Take your medicine and go back to your ward.
Load More Replies...This is extraordinary, but why didn't the people who were already up there just, you know, pull the kid up (before the real-life superhero scaled the building...)?
It makes me so sad to tell you this but.....people here (in France) are actually hating on the guy, saying that it's no reason to get citizenship, that if he can climb that well it is because he is a thief, blablabla......... People are so f*****g sick :(
I saw this video earlier but it wasn't as clear for some reason. Who designs balcony railings with horizontal bars? Perfect for little feet to use as a ladder. How the heck that boy held on, even until the neighbour got hold of him, I can't imagine. Great rescue. This guy should enter Ninja Warrior.
WHOA! What a hero! 💐💐💐 I would really like to know how the poor kid got in that state though but this man shows that you should respect others races! 💐💐💐
This is a story about NOT letting how someone looks to you impair your judgment of him/her. When I first saw Mr. Gassama's photos, I thought 'Whew, he looks tough, like a bad guy, someone you wouldn't want to be caught out alone by on a dark street at night....." And then I read the story, and watch the video, and although I knew Mr. Gassama is a hero, I couldn't help but wonder how many people would see his photos and think the same thing--that he looked sort of like a "come at me bro" kind of street thug, when he is more of a man, more of a GOOD HUMAN BEING than 20 of us put together! Never judge a book by its cover, my friends. Thank you to Mr. Gassama! I'm sure his parents are grateful. And maybe the reason the father did nothing is because he was scared out of his mind and panicked--didn't know WHAT to do! Put yourself in his situation and try to empathize. I'm glad the baby is ok! Everyone is ok! And Mr. Gassama is A-OK!! :-D
I need more stories like this. Awesome. And Damn, that guy is gorgeous
My god. I have so many questions, but thank you to Mamoudou! So glad he's being heralded for this act of bravery.
This is the kind of stories I read Bored Panda for. So positive and encouraging, they bring faith into humanity and heroic deeds. Those are rarely come by today and need more highlight.
Hero for sure!! That was amazing! And how the Hell did that little one hold on for that long?? Must be very strong. Most 4 yr olds can't hold onto monkey bars that long. What courage it took for that young man to not even hesitate to save that baby.
Now every other immigrant has a really high bar to meet, there are only so many dangling kids that can be saved
I only read the article and it makes my feet and hand shriveled and cold sweat and tingling sensation imagining climbing that much high!! Omg such a gentle soul that man has
Regardless of citizenship, this man is a HERO who risked his life to save the life of a child. We need more people like him in this world!
What is with the hand gestures in the pic of him wearing the green Nike shirt? Look closely.
Why is he known as an African immigrant in the tittle?! Why can't it be replaced with Hero/heroic man. F*****g ridiculous.
I see why you say this, but part of the story was that he was given citizenship in France after the video went viral, so I think that’s why they pointed it out
Load More Replies...Why does a happy story have to turn into hating on trump? Just enjoy this story of restored faith in humanity
For the record, I think Mr. Trump is the real worlds version of a troll, but I truly agree with you. Can we just rejoice in this act of heroism and move on, faith restored?
Load More Replies...Considering the current fate of the immigrants in Europe right now, I think that it is absolutely necessary to point this out... Maybe this will help some people to understand that immigrants are people too. Great people sometimes. It is in no way racist, as it helped him getting an interview with the president and the French citizenship.
Load More Replies...Those people were the neighbours and there was a partitioning wall.
Load More Replies...Not everyone can climb up the side of the building, they couldn't have really done anything to help. Did recording it really do any bad?
Load More Replies...Props to the man for jumping in without hesitating. I'm so glad this wasn't in the US. Someone might've shot him on the way up claiming trespassing.
French President Macron met him this morning : he will be helped to gain french citizenship, and is willing to join the Paris Firemen
They're going to save lots of money on fire ladders... 😂 What an amazing man!!!
Load More Replies...People shouldn't criticise the neighbours. They came out and reached over to hold the boy until "spiderman" got there. If they'd tried to climb around the partition to the boy's balcony they may have knocked him off.
From my viewing of it the neighbour had a grasp of the child's arm and would likely have had him back onto the balcony in another few seconds. Not to take anything from Mamoudou's courage though - he was brilliant!
Load More Replies...People think immigrants just want to come and steal your jobs and stuff but they just want to better life than they had before coming here. They DO contribute to society
Here in the US 90% of citizens are descendants of immigrants or slaves. Some of us trace our families back 400 years, but most of us had ancestors arrive here in the last 80-150 years. Some came with wealth. Most free men & women came in poverty, looking for a job. Many more came as slaves captured in Africa or as indentured servants from Europe.
Load More Replies...This is the first Bored Panda story that I have seen with such negative, opinionated, political comments. This is a sad day. I read BP to get away from this s**t.
you must be new then... sometimes it can get pretty thrilling here in comment section.
Load More Replies...a real-life hero.. here in the U.S. some of our leaders and citizens forget that we are a nation of immigrants. This used to be what made the U.S. great - that a nation of people of all different backgrounds and beliefs could come together to work for benefit of all involved, not just those at the top.... it's sad and alarming.
To heck with Spiderman, this guy is our next Assassin's Creed protagonist.
Do you know that was all a play that was set up long before.... it makes my sick 🤮
Franta ! Take your medicine and go back to your ward.
Load More Replies...This is extraordinary, but why didn't the people who were already up there just, you know, pull the kid up (before the real-life superhero scaled the building...)?
It makes me so sad to tell you this but.....people here (in France) are actually hating on the guy, saying that it's no reason to get citizenship, that if he can climb that well it is because he is a thief, blablabla......... People are so f*****g sick :(
I saw this video earlier but it wasn't as clear for some reason. Who designs balcony railings with horizontal bars? Perfect for little feet to use as a ladder. How the heck that boy held on, even until the neighbour got hold of him, I can't imagine. Great rescue. This guy should enter Ninja Warrior.
WHOA! What a hero! 💐💐💐 I would really like to know how the poor kid got in that state though but this man shows that you should respect others races! 💐💐💐
This is a story about NOT letting how someone looks to you impair your judgment of him/her. When I first saw Mr. Gassama's photos, I thought 'Whew, he looks tough, like a bad guy, someone you wouldn't want to be caught out alone by on a dark street at night....." And then I read the story, and watch the video, and although I knew Mr. Gassama is a hero, I couldn't help but wonder how many people would see his photos and think the same thing--that he looked sort of like a "come at me bro" kind of street thug, when he is more of a man, more of a GOOD HUMAN BEING than 20 of us put together! Never judge a book by its cover, my friends. Thank you to Mr. Gassama! I'm sure his parents are grateful. And maybe the reason the father did nothing is because he was scared out of his mind and panicked--didn't know WHAT to do! Put yourself in his situation and try to empathize. I'm glad the baby is ok! Everyone is ok! And Mr. Gassama is A-OK!! :-D
I need more stories like this. Awesome. And Damn, that guy is gorgeous
My god. I have so many questions, but thank you to Mamoudou! So glad he's being heralded for this act of bravery.
This is the kind of stories I read Bored Panda for. So positive and encouraging, they bring faith into humanity and heroic deeds. Those are rarely come by today and need more highlight.
Hero for sure!! That was amazing! And how the Hell did that little one hold on for that long?? Must be very strong. Most 4 yr olds can't hold onto monkey bars that long. What courage it took for that young man to not even hesitate to save that baby.
Now every other immigrant has a really high bar to meet, there are only so many dangling kids that can be saved
I only read the article and it makes my feet and hand shriveled and cold sweat and tingling sensation imagining climbing that much high!! Omg such a gentle soul that man has
Regardless of citizenship, this man is a HERO who risked his life to save the life of a child. We need more people like him in this world!
What is with the hand gestures in the pic of him wearing the green Nike shirt? Look closely.
Why is he known as an African immigrant in the tittle?! Why can't it be replaced with Hero/heroic man. F*****g ridiculous.
I see why you say this, but part of the story was that he was given citizenship in France after the video went viral, so I think that’s why they pointed it out
Load More Replies...Why does a happy story have to turn into hating on trump? Just enjoy this story of restored faith in humanity
For the record, I think Mr. Trump is the real worlds version of a troll, but I truly agree with you. Can we just rejoice in this act of heroism and move on, faith restored?
Load More Replies...Considering the current fate of the immigrants in Europe right now, I think that it is absolutely necessary to point this out... Maybe this will help some people to understand that immigrants are people too. Great people sometimes. It is in no way racist, as it helped him getting an interview with the president and the French citizenship.
Load More Replies...Those people were the neighbours and there was a partitioning wall.
Load More Replies...Not everyone can climb up the side of the building, they couldn't have really done anything to help. Did recording it really do any bad?
Load More Replies...
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