If you’ve been online in the last 24 hours, chances are you’ve seen the incredible video from Paris of a man scaling the exterior of an apartment building to save a small child from falling. The rescuer’s name is Mamoudou Gassama – a 22 year old Malian national and an undocumented migrant living in France.

Gassama’s incredible act of bravery quickly earned him the nickname “Le Spiderman”, and a few hours ago, he found himself in the Presidential Palace opposite Emmanuel Macron.  The French Government has promised to fast track Gassama’s residency documents, and whilst Gassama’s heroism is being celebrated, some have reflected on the plight of the many thousands of undocumented migrants who will never receive such public praise.  

French documentary maker and commentator Raphaël Glucksmann wrote: “Like everyone else, I admire the bravery of Mamoudou Gassama. But I dream of a country where it won’t be necessary to put one’s own life at risk scaling a building to save the life of a child in order to be treated like a human being when one is a migrant.”