Man scales four storeys to rescue child from Paris apartment building

The four-year-old was filmed hanging on for his life outside an apartment on Rue Marx-Dormoy on Saturday afternoon. Photo / via video

This is the incredible moment a man scaled four storeys to rescue a young boy dangling from a balcony in Paris.

The four-year-old was filmed hanging on for his life outside an apartment on Rue Marx-Dormoy on Saturday afternoon, having been apparently left home alone while his father was out shopping, the Daily Mail reported.

He was spotted by Mamoudou Gassama, who took less than 30 seconds to reach the child, and has since been compared to the Marvel superhero Spider-Man.

Asked why he took such a risk to save the boy, Gassama told Le Parisien: "I did it because it's a child."

After effortlessly making his ascent, encouraged by a crowd of onlookers, Gassama, 22, grabbed the boy and took him to safety.

Fire crews had already been alerted to the incident, in the capital's 18th arrondissement, by a neighbour, who can be seen desperately trying to grab the boy from the next balcony along.

However, Gassama, originally from Mali, leapt into action before they arrived.

Footage of the rescue was posted on Facebook. Photo / via video

Asked why he took such a risk to save the boy, Gassama told Le Parisien: "I did it because it's a child."

One witness told Le Parisien: "There is a fence and a gap between them... The neighbour could not afford to lean back to get the child himself."

The only injury sustained by the child was a torn nail. Gassama suffered a few scratches.

An investigation into the incident is now underway.