Hero Scales Balconies to Rescue Neighbors from Apartment Fire in France

"I was sleeping, my wife screamed, I went out and saw the fire, I got everyone out of my house," Moktar tells France 3, who, sensitive to the cries of distress of his neighbors, decided to assist them before the arrival of the firefighters. "The upstairs neighbors were being overtaken by the smoke, they couldn’t get out. I climbed the balconies, from window to window to get out two children, a mom and a teenager."

A plasterer by trade, the man said he did not think before launching into a rescue operation. "It was so frightening that it had to be done," he said, before explaining his modus operandi: "When I clung to a railing, I told them to cling to me at the same time, we let ourselves slide down slowly." Meanwhile, his wife was alerting the neighbors by ringing their doors, which helped avoid the worst.

Later, the firefighters who arrived on the scene proceeded to rescue the other victims of the fire. On Tuesday morning, Moktar received congratulations from the town hall for his heroic gesture. "We avoided a tragedy, solidarity worked well during the fire," the mayor rejoiced. Of the 50 people rescued, 26 who suffered minor intoxication were taken to the hospital. The cause of the fire could be accidental.