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Gassama took his first steps towards French citizenship today. Pool/ABACA

Family of Paris balcony boy thank 'Spiderman' as he signs up for fire service internship

Mamoudou Gassama has become a worldwide name after his feat of bravery.

MAMOUDOU GASSAMA, THE 22-year-old Malian “Spiderman” feted for saving a child hanging from a balcony, has took his first step toward French citizenship  and joined the fire brigade as accolades continued to pour in over his daring rescue.

Video footage of Gassama scaling four storeys of the building with his bare hands has catapulted the young man to global fame, and earned him the promise of citizenship from President Emmanuel Macron.

Wearing white sweatpants and a black cap, the hero of a rescue video viewed by millions of people appeared slightly overwhelmed by the media furore as he filed his application for legal residency in the Paris suburb of Bobigny.

Hailing the bravery of the youth – who had been living in France illegally – the head of the local authority, Pierre-Andre Durand said: “How can anyone fail to be impressed by what he did, not admire it?

He helped someone in danger, which is not such a common thing in our society.

Gassama became an overnight sensation after the video of him plucking a four-year-old boy to safety on Saturday went viral.

Yesterday, he was honoured by President Emmanuel Macron with a medal for bravery, the promise of citizenship and the offer of a job with the fire service.

Gassama arrived in France via Italy and the perilous Mediterranean migrant route.

His official permit allowing him to work will arrive within a month, and his citizenship papers in about three months, officials have said.

The athletic Malian also visited a fire station to sign up for a 10-month internship with the Paris fire and rescue services, expected to pay close to €600 a month.

Guardian News / YouTube

‘Could have been worse’

The family of the young boy he saved thanked him for his quick thinking.

The boy’s paternal grandmother, who like his mother lives in Reunion, told RMC radio today that she was “very moved” by the images of the rescue and sent “huge thanks” to Gassama.

“He’s really a hero,” she said. “He did not stand by and watch, he saved my little sweetpea.”

The boy’s father, who had been living alone with him in Paris, had left him alone to go out to the shops and then remained on the street to play Pokemon Go, according to French investigators.

He was arrested on charges of neglecting his parental duties but released again.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said he had admitted his guilt and expressed “profound regret”.

The boy’s mother learned the news of the rescue on Reunion Island — the French Indian Ocean territory where she and the father were born and where she still lives.

President Macron Receives Mamoudou Gassama - Paris Mamoudou Gassama at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris. PA Images PA Images

Reacting to Gassama’s intervention on Antenne Reunion radio she said: “We can only thank him and thank heaven he was so reactive.”

“Things could have turned out much worse so I am relieved,” she said, adding that she was impatient to be reunited with her son and husband.

‘Hypocrisy’

Gassama told Macron during a visit that he “did not think twice” before springing into action.

Lawmakers are debating a controversial bill that would speed up the deportation of economic migrants and failed asylum-seekers, thousands of whom live in squalid camps in the capital.

“There’s a bit of hypocrisy or cynicism,” added Claire Rodier of the GISTI association which supports immigrants.

She saw a contrast between the treatment of Gassama and “the repressive policy of this government against migrants and those without documents.”

© – AFP 2018

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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    May 29th 2018, 2:05 PM

    A man who showed great courage and bravery and clearly shows passion in serving his French community. He is more than worthy of citizenship.

    627
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    Mute Jamie Jj Tobin
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    May 29th 2018, 2:17 PM

    @Daniel Donovan: If all migrants coming to Europe are like this guy we shouldn’t have much to worry about in future.

    243
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    Mute Greg Blake
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    May 29th 2018, 4:22 PM

    if that was in Jacksonville or Memphis he’d be in for questioning and stitched up about every unsolved high rise burglary in town. But seriously, he deserves the limelight and the positive life changes coming his way.

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    Mute Stiofán De Priondárgas
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    May 29th 2018, 8:12 PM

    @Greg Blake: he would have bern shot half way up

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    Mute Liam Rogers
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    May 30th 2018, 7:28 AM

    @Greg Blake: sap

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    Mute John Murphy
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    May 29th 2018, 2:25 PM

    The physical fitness of the lad!!! There’s fellas working out five days a week that couldn’t manage that. Outstanding stuff.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    May 29th 2018, 2:36 PM

    @John Murphy:
    I was thinking the same, the way he hauled himself at speed shows serious upper body strength.
    As often the case with someone like that, he made it look easy!

    137
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    Mute will
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    May 29th 2018, 3:44 PM

    @P.J. Nolan: There’s a reason why over 70% of the NBA and NFL players are black, the top Olympic sprinters, half or more of the French and English football team’s are black. When you consider only 15% of America is black and around 5% of France and England, safe to say that those who’s genes descend from Africa are on average much more superior athletically.

    I’d say the Africans would dominate in sport if they’re countries where developed and the people given half a chance.

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    Mute Stephen O'Donoghue
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    May 29th 2018, 3:50 PM

    @will: It’s speed they have.

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    Mute Jasun Ó Cearnaigh
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    May 29th 2018, 10:11 PM

    @will: only at running and basketball bit much to say superior at sports! Messi is one example!

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    Mute EillieEs
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    May 30th 2018, 2:58 AM

    @P.J. Nolan: he’d out Spider-Man to shame:). Incredibly brave and quick-thinking.

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    Mute DMur
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    May 29th 2018, 2:04 PM

    I still cannot understand, how the other guy holding onto the child couldn’t have dragged him over.

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    Mute B9xiRspG
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    May 29th 2018, 2:13 PM

    @DMur: I read other comments, that stated there was a partition between him and the child and he could only hold on and not get a proper grip to lift.

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    Mute hyippy
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    May 29th 2018, 2:19 PM

    @DMur: if you look closely on the video you’ll see t he kid is much further over at first and there is no one on the other balcony. The guy on the balcony once he came out tried to inch the child to safety. You could argue he should have climbed across but you don’t know his physical situation, maybe he didn’t feel he could help safely. Regardless it’s best to just focus on the unbelievable heroism of “spiderman” than trying to judge some guy who’s situation we don’t know.

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    Mute worldpeace
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    May 29th 2018, 2:23 PM

    @DMur: there was a partition between them if he tries to move maybe he’ll lose his grip, this guy obviously an unsung hero in this story

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    Mute DMur
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    May 29th 2018, 2:30 PM

    @B9xiRspG: ah was that it. I didn’t make out the partition when I viewed the video. Thanks.

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    Mute Bernard Keating
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    May 29th 2018, 3:38 PM

    @DMur: he wasn’t hanging on to him , he couldn’t reach him

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    Mute Gareth Keenan
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    May 29th 2018, 3:50 PM

    @Bernard Keating: how was the child managing to hang on so?

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    Mute James Moore
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    May 29th 2018, 2:09 PM

    What a fantastic man he put his own life in danger to save a little boy he should be given the freedom of Paris for his selfless act and i hope he gets that firemans job he will be an asset to them

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    Mute B9xiRspG
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    May 29th 2018, 2:16 PM

    Where’re all the comments from the anti-immigrant group that normally jumps all over the other stories? Quick to paint a bad picture on all immigrant but when one of them does good, the silence is deafening!

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    Mute Clinton Baptiste
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    May 29th 2018, 2:32 PM

    @B9xiRspG: It’s all well and good the child was rescued , but for every one case like this , there are 20 where the illegal has caused harm . Was it a setup , the man on the balcony could have moved .
    So because a child was saved , you think open access to our countries should be granted .

    59
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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    May 29th 2018, 2:36 PM

    @Clinton Baptiste: Most “illegals” are people looking to improve their own and their families lives. Ultimately they’re just people, not some insidious invading force like the geniuses of the alt-right would have you believe. Whether they end up as an economic burden or benefit is open to debate, but instances of negative impact are always exaggerated by those with a vested interest.

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    Mute Clinton Baptiste
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    May 29th 2018, 2:52 PM

    @Shane McGettrick: I think most people are aware why illegal migrants move to Europe . But we already have legal migration , how many people do you think we can take .
    Is being against illegal migration *Alt right* wow , anything to the right of Pol Pot must seem fascist to you .

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    Mute B9xiRspG
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    May 29th 2018, 3:27 PM

    @Clinton Baptiste: You have a fake facebook account and make racist comments like this. You’re a brave man alright hiding like that! I’m not going to even argue your useless points with you.

    If you have the courage to post under your real name, then come back and we can have a debate.

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    Mute Clinton Baptiste
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    May 29th 2018, 4:22 PM

    @B9xiRspG: I take it you don’t keep up with the news about people’s information and facebook .
    Whether I post under an assumed name or real name has no bearing on the facts .
    If you can’t debate facts blame something else .
    Here’s your first question , where did I mention anything about race ?

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 29th 2018, 4:33 PM

    @Clinton Baptiste: of course, you have all the facts

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    Mute Greg Blake
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    May 29th 2018, 4:33 PM

    @B9xiRspG: that’s a bit of a straw grasp. People who believe in controlled and regulated migration, still do so. His French citizenship is still not automatic, he’ll be fast tracked and treated favorably as a well deserved thank you, but properly processed nonetheless. Illegal routes still need to be discouraged.

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    Mute Clinton Baptiste
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    May 29th 2018, 4:52 PM

    @Toki Wartooth: That’s debatable .

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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    May 29th 2018, 5:08 PM

    @Clinton Baptiste: You well know that migration is one of the great bogey man fears of the alt-right. I’m not condoning illegal migration (far from it in fact), but its hardly surprising that after French colonisation of Africa, from Algeria to Senegal, that migrants are going to end up heading in the opposite direction.

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    Mute Clinton Baptiste
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    May 29th 2018, 5:42 PM

    @Shane McGettrick: Of course people will look for the easy option , I don’t solely blame illegal migrants , the people who encourage it and facilitate it are worse .

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    Mute Danny Rafferty
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    May 29th 2018, 5:47 PM

    @Clinton Baptiste: Wrong. Because you post under an assumed name you can freely make claims with no facts, you can insult and even make illegal statements.
    Your opinions are not real. They are fantasy arguments you have in your fantasy bubble where you cannot be held to account.
    You make these statements from an anonymous account so that your friends, family and colleagues won’t identify you with those statements.
    In short, you are an anonymous coward and you are ashamed.
    You’re the reason why a lot of online debate is simply a waste of time.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    May 29th 2018, 6:13 PM

    @Danny Rafferty:
    Very well said.

    9
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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    May 29th 2018, 2:45 PM

    Suitable job for him, the fire service. He won’t even need a ladder.

    73
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    Mute James Noel Bradley
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    May 29th 2018, 5:18 PM

    @Dermot Lane: Of course he will need a ladder. Don’t be so smart.

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    Mute I like this cushion
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    May 29th 2018, 2:15 PM

    Absolute hero. Well done and thank god this ended well for everybody.

    59
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    Mute Lily
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    May 29th 2018, 3:01 PM

    Fantastic news, he is well suited for the job. I doubt this will be the last we hear of this fine fellow.

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    Mute JENI
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    May 29th 2018, 3:33 PM

    The father was out playing pokemon go wtf

    51
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    Mute Padraic Reid
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    May 29th 2018, 3:25 PM

    He showed great courage and determination unlike the mob here who voted to end the lives of children.

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    Mute Snowball
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    May 29th 2018, 5:28 PM

    @Padraic Reid: Yawn

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    Mute Bat Daly
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    May 29th 2018, 5:44 PM

    @Padraic Reid: Double yawn.

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    Mute Pat Conners
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    May 29th 2018, 11:21 PM

    @Padraic Reid: calm down father reid….have a glass of holy water.

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    May 29th 2018, 7:08 PM

    The crazy thing here is that the child fell from a floor above and held on – not taking anything away from the hero – but that child has some crazy strength to have lasted holding on until he was helped

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    Mute Pat Conners
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    May 29th 2018, 11:27 PM

    @Paul Quirke: young kids have a death grip an instinctive survival mechanism.

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    Mute Jed I. Knight
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    May 29th 2018, 4:21 PM

    If I may, how the Hell was anyone ever allowed to build balconies with what appeared to be no protective or safety rails, allowing the child to simply walk off the edge in the first place. That beggars belief.

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    Mute The Harkin
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    May 29th 2018, 7:37 PM

    “Has took” !! Does anyone proofread these articles? Do they not teach journalists proper English anymore?

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    Mute Eleanor Jay
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    May 29th 2018, 10:01 PM

    @The Harkin: was going to say the same! Outrageously bad writing, and obviously no editing!

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    Mute Pat Conners
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    May 29th 2018, 11:30 PM

    @The Harkin: Do they not teach journalists English properly anymore.

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    Mute Thosj Carroll
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    May 29th 2018, 3:17 PM

    Beauty hero…..

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    May 29th 2018, 2:27 PM

    Guy Incognito, ƃuᴉʞ sᴉ uᴉoɔʇᴉq ??????

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    Mute Geoff Murphy
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    May 30th 2018, 12:03 AM

    Setup….

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    Mute William Flynn
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    May 29th 2018, 8:27 PM

    Why could the guy who was “holding” the baby just lift him over the balcony?!

    Dare I say it, has this has been staged?

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    Mute EillieEs
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    May 30th 2018, 3:07 AM

    @William Flynn: the guy in the adjoining balcony wasn’t there at the start of the video and there’s a barrier between the two balconies so he couldn’t reach him properly. Are you SERIOUSLY suggesting the father of the child left his young son dangling from a fourth-floor balcony while he was off playing Pokémon-Go as a set up?

    2
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