Remember the Malian migrant who rescued a small boy dangling from a balcony in Paris?
Mamoudou Gassama in a bid to rescue a small boy scaled four floors with his bare hands to save the child who was left without supervision.
Gassama has been living in France illegally but now he’s received international commendation for his brave act.
President Emmanuel Macron personally thanked him and said he would be offered a role in the fire service.
“This act of great bravery exemplifies the values which help unite our national community, such as courage, selflessness, altruism and taking care of the most vulnerable,” said the official decree published on Wednesday announcing the granting of his citizenship.
A contract for an internship with the Paris fire service was signed by Gassama and was given a medal by the city.
Gassama first received French residency, a first step towards citizenship, and later received French citizenship for his heroic gesture.
Gassama arrive France last year via the Mediterranean migrant route and found a job in construction in the capital. As an illegal immigrant, he worked cash-in-hand on building sites and lived in a hostel in the western suburb of Montreuil – known as “little Bamako” because of its large Malian population.
He earned the nickname Spiderman as a result of his act of bravery.