PARIS: A Malian migrant who scaled a Paris apartment bloc to save a four-year-old child was hailed on Monday as an “example” by President Emmanuel Macron, who welcomed him to the presidential palace and offered him citizenship.

Two days after his daring rescue — viewed millions of times online — Mamoudou Gassama, nicknamed “Spiderman” by French media for his astonishing climbing abilities, met with Macron in the splendour of the Elysee Palace.

“You have become an example because millions of people have seen you. It is only right that the nation be grateful,” Macron told the 22-year-old, adding that his immigration status would be “put in order”.

Macron, who presented him with a medal for bravery, also offered him a job with the fire service.

“I did not think twice. I went straight up,” the sporty youth, who wore jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, said, explaining his climb.

Gassama was also congratulated by Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who phoned him at the Paris embassy to congratulate him “for honouring all of Mali,” the embassy said.

His act of heroism, the top news item in France, comes as lawmakers debate a controversial bill that would speed up the deportation of economic migrants and failed asylum-seekers.

Gassama has been living illegally in France and working in construction after arriving in September last year following a perilous journey from his homeland to Libya then Italy.

Macron, a centrist, has taken a tough line on economic migrants fleeing poverty rather than refugees escaping war or persecution. But Gassama’s “exceptional act of heroism” warranted an “exceptional decision”, he said.

He leapt into action on Saturday evening on seeing the child dangling from the fourth-storey balcony of an apartment in the 18th district.

The video shows Gassama swiftly pulling himself up from balcony to balcony to reach the boy, to the cheers of onlookers.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2018