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Man Climbs 6th Floor Ledge To Rescue Family Trapped In Apartment Fire

July 11, 2025

Fousseynou Samba Cissé had just returned home from a long week working as a school caretaker in Paris when he heard a nearby fire alarm.

Hoping for a quiet evening, he instead found himself at the center of a life-saving rescue.

Fousseynou Samba Cissé saving a family from a house fire

Looking through a neighbor’s window, Cissé saw smoke pouring from an apartment where a woman and several children were trapped. Without hesitating, he climbed out onto a sixth-floor ledge and began helping those inside escape the flames.

In total, he saved six people—two adults and four children, including two babies.

Video of his daring actions quickly spread across social media, and Cissé’s instinctive bravery captured the attention of the public and French officials alike. In an interview with Radio France, he said he acted without thinking of his own safety.

“They had to be saved, that’s it. I didn’t hesitate. I jumped automatically,” he said.

Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez announced that Cissé would be awarded a medal for “courage and devotion” at an upcoming ceremony. French President Emmanuel Macron personally called to commend him and invited him to be a guest of honor at the Bastille Day parade.

The City of Paris also recognized his courage, calling him “our Parisian hero.”

Cissé, who currently holds a residency permit but is not a French citizen, works under contract for public middle schools. He shared hopes that his brave act might help improve his immigration status.

“Saving a life, even if it’s just one person, but especially several people at the same time, is something magnificent,” he said.

His story echoes that of Mamoudou Gassama, another immigrant who became a national hero in 2018 after rescuing a child from a balcony. Gassama was later granted French citizenship and credited the moment for changing his life.

As Cissé reflected on what happened, he admitted the danger only sank in after the fact.

“I was facing a void from the sixth floor where I could fall. It wasn’t easy,” he said. “But I’m happy. I listened to my heart.”