Mamoudou Gassama - a Malian in illegal situation in France - was caught on video climbing a
2 building in Paris to rescue a child who was dangling from a fourth-floor balcony. It took Gassama
only about half a minute to reach the 4 year-old and pull him to safety. “I did not think of the 4 floors ... I did not think of the risk,” Gassama told journalists, “I did it because it' s a child,"
Paris Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, called the 22-year-old hero "Spider-Man of the 18ème
6 arrondissement," as the rescue happened in there. "Gassama explained to me that he had arrived
from Mali a few months before, dreaming of building his life here," Hidalgo told the press. "I
8 told him that his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously
be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France." Two days later, French
10 President Emmanuel Macron met with Gassama, thanked him, gave him a medal and said he
would get him the French nationality.
12 The child was under the care of his father while his mother was outside of Paris. The father was
not home at the time of the incident. French prosecutor* François Molins told journalists that the 14 father had left the house to go shopping and was also playing "Pokemon Go" video game, while
his son was in danger of death. "The father is now under arrest and faces up to two years in 16 prison," said Mr. Molins.