The family of the 4-year-old boy who was rescued by "Spiderman" Mamoudou Gassama who won him global acclaim and French citizenship have thanked the Malian man for his quick rescue while 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.

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.

Reacting to Gassama's intervention on Antenne Reunion radio late Monday, the woman, who was not identified, said: "We can only thank him and thank heaven he was so reactive."

She said French police phoned her to tell her the news. "Then I saw video on the internet. But I should not have watched it because you know it's your son in the video."

Just half an hour earlier she had spoken to both father and son in a video call, she said.

Gassama, 22, scaled four storeys of an apartment block in France on Saturday to rescue the four-year-old who was spotted dangling from a balcony.

Mamoudou Gassama, the Malian migrant "Spiderman" received French residency Tuesday, a first step towards citizenship promised by President Emmanuel Macron.

After receiving a resident's permit from local authorities, the 22-year-old, who had been living illegally in France since September, signed a contract to carry out an internship with the Paris fire service.

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(With inputs from AFP)

Mamoudou Gassama, the Malian migrant "Spiderman" received French residency Tuesday, a first step towards citizenship promised by President Emmanuel Macron

The family of the 4-year-old boy who was rescued by "Spiderman" Mamoudou Gassama who won him global acclaim and French citizenship have thanked the Malian man for his quick rescue while 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. 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. Reacting to Gassama's intervention on Antenne Reunion radio late Monday, the woman, who was not identified, said: "We can only thank him and thank heaven he was so reactive." She said French police phoned her to tell her the news. "Then I saw video on the internet. But I should not have watched it because you know it's your son in the video." Just half an hour earlier she had spoken to both father and son in a video call, she said. Gassama, 22, scaled four storeys of an apartment block in France on Saturday to rescue the four-year-old who was spotted dangling from a balcony. Mamoudou Gassama, the Malian migrant "Spiderman" received French residency Tuesday, a first step towards citizenship promised by President Emmanuel Macron. After receiving a resident's permit from local authorities, the 22-year-old, who had been living illegally in France since September, signed a contract to carry out an internship with the Paris fire service. × (With inputs from AFP)

Father of rescued Paris child was on street to play Pokemon Go: Officials

A Malian immigrant who scaled the facade of a four-storey building in Paris to save a child hanging from a ledge, met President Emmanuel Macron on Monday.

Mamoudou Gassama met Macron inside the French presidential palace where the two had a quick conversation. He received a certificate of bravery and a medal after meeting the French President.

After the meeting, Macron announced Gassama would get French citizenship.

The video of Gassama's quick climbing to reach the child, cheered on by terrified onlookers, went viral on social media, with people calling the 22-year-old a real 'spiderman'. Gassama pulled himself from balcony to balcony to save the four-year-old.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had on Sunday praised the heroism of Gassama, saying the city will support his effort to settle in France.

"Congratulations to Mamoudou Gassama for his act of bravery that saved the life of a child," Hidalgo said on her official Twitter account, adding that she spoke with him by phone to thank him.

Hidalgo said Gassama told her that he arrived from Mali a few months ago and wished to stay in France.

"I replied that his heroic gesture was 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," Hidalgo said.

French minister and former government spokesman Christophe Castaner also took to Twitter to say how admirable it was that Gassama stepped forward to save a life without giving any thought for his own.

Le Parisien newspaper reported that Gassama was walking by when he saw a gathering in front of the building and leapt into action.

"I did it because it was a child," the paper quoted him saying. "I climbed... Thank God I saved him."

The video of Gassama's quick climbing to reach the child, cheered on by terrified onlookers, went viral on social media.

A Malian immigrant who scaled the facade of a four-storey building in Paris to save a child hanging from a ledge, met President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. Mamoudou Gassama met Macron inside the French presidential palace where the two had a quick conversation. He received a certificate of bravery and a medal after meeting the French President. After the meeting, Macron announced Gassama would get French citizenship. The video of Gassama's quick climbing to reach the child, cheered on by terrified onlookers, went viral on social media, with people calling the 22-year-old a real 'spiderman'. Gassama pulled himself from balcony to balcony to save the four-year-old. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had on Sunday praised the heroism of Gassama, saying the city will support his effort to settle in France. "Congratulations to Mamoudou Gassama for his act of bravery that saved the life of a child," Hidalgo said on her official Twitter account, adding that she spoke with him by phone to thank him. Hidalgo said Gassama told her that he arrived from Mali a few months ago and wished to stay in France. "I replied that his heroic gesture was 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," Hidalgo said. French minister and former government spokesman Christophe Castaner also took to Twitter to say how admirable it was that Gassama stepped forward to save a life without giving any thought for his own. Le Parisien newspaper reported that Gassama was walking by when he saw a gathering in front of the building and leapt into action. "I did it because it was a child," the paper quoted him saying. "I climbed... Thank God I saved him."

'Spiderman' migrant who scaled building to save toddler gets French citizenship

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Father of rescued Paris child was on street to play Pokemon Go: Officials

'Spiderman' migrant who scaled building to save toddler gets French citizenship