Rescued toddler 'had already fallen two floors'; family thank Paris hero

Father arrested

AFP said the child's mother had been planning to move to Paris next month, along with the couple's second child, a 1-year-old. News channel BFM said she has brought her plans forward and will be in France this week.

The BBC, meanwhile, has reported that the child's father had been arrested on charges of neglecting his parental duties. He was reunited with his child after questioning, under the supervision of social services.

The Paris prosecutor's office said he has admitted guilt and expressed "profound regret".

The boy's paternal grandmother, who also lives on Reunion Island, told RMC radio on Tuesday she was "very moved" by the rescue and sent "huge thanks" to Gassama.

"He's really a hero," she said. "He did not stand by and watch, he saved my little sweetpea."

The BBC reported that the boy and his father had only been in Paris for about three weeks.

The resident of a neighboring fourth-floor apartment who held the boy's hand while Gassama scaled the outside of the building told Le Parisien newspaper he could not lift the boy to safety because a divider separating the two balconies was in the way.

He also said the child had been wearing a Spiderman outfit, and had injured his foot.