Paris Hero Saves Family from Fire, Honored by President

Quick Smiles:

• Brave Parisian climbs a high ledge to rescue a family from a fire.
• Six lives, including those of four children, were saved by his daring actions.
• Heroic act earns him recognition from the French President and Paris Police Chief.

Smoke was swirling ominously outside a Paris apartment window, hinting at the chaos within. Inside, flames roared, trapping two adults and four children with seemingly no way out.

Enter Fousseynou Cissé, a 39-year-old receptionist at a secondary school, who acted without hesitation. The only path to safety was a slender ledge, 65 feet in the air.

Stepping out from an adjacent apartment, Cissé moved with determination, inching closer to the inferno.

From his precarious position, a mother passed her tiny baby, clad only in a diaper, to Cissé. He then handed the infant to a friend safely inside the neighboring apartment.

This scene repeated five more times as Cissé assisted the remaining family members across the ledge before climbing to safety himself.

A bystander captured the entire rescue on video, and it quickly spread across French TV and social media, showcasing Cissé’s bravery.

The French President extended an invitation to Cissé to be a guest of honor at France’s Bastille Day parade. The Paris Police Chief also planned to award him a ceremonial medal for his valor and dedication.

The city hailed Cissé as a hero, yet he remained humble.

“I went on instinct,” he explained.

“It’s the heart telling you, ‘No, you have to go.’”

As the smoke cleared and the story unfolded, Cissé’s courageous act shone even brighter. Reports revealed that he is an immigrant, not yet a French citizen, but holding a residency permit that allows him to work. The baby he saved was just a month old, with another child only one year old.

In total, six lives were rescued, thanks to Cissé’s daring venture onto the ledge, with the fire raging dangerously close.

“I was facing a void from the sixth floor where I could fall,” Cissé shared.

“It wasn’t easy, so afterward, given the seriousness [of the situation], I felt happy. Saving a life, even if it’s just one person, but especially several people at the same time, is something magnificent.”

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