By Johanna Gardener •
Published: 27 Nov 2024 • 18:46
• 2 minutes read
Mansour Konte has become a hero in Málaga for saving a woman’s life and to honour his bravery he will become the new face of Balthasar in the King’s Parade in Málaga.
In an ironic twist of fate, Mansour Konte risked his own life a year ago to get to Spain. After the almost impossible process of leaving his own country, he then embarked on a boat, travelling for nine perilous days at sea until reaching the Canary Islands. The 18-year-old who hails from Guinea-Conakry is currently seeking asylum, and is waiting for it to be approved.
Mansour rescued woman unable to cross a street in Málaga s flooding
However, his situation changed dramatically when on November 13, his inherent bravery shone through when he rescued a woman from heavy rainfall during the DANA-provoked flooding in Málaga. The heroic rescue took place in Huelin. When the neighbourhood flooded, his damsel in distress became a woman, around 40-years-old, who was clearly stranded by the rising waters. She was struggling to cross a wide street and was unable to advance, crying out that she could not walk. Mansour’s immediate response was to gallantly pick the woman up into his arms and carry her to safety, despite the danger he faced himself. He told EFE that the situation was very dangerous, so he had to respond. He said: She told me she couldn t walk so I picked her up, took her off the street and then I went to the police to help me.
Mansour invited to talk to local Mayor and was thanked by woman
Mansour was thanked by the woman and to commemorate his bravery, he was received by the local Mayor, Francisco de la Torre, who congratulated him for the extraordinary work of solidarity with a woman in Malaga who had experienced serious difficulty during the rains.
Mansour to play role of Balthasar in the Three Kings Parade in January
Like every true story of bravery and courage, there is a happy ending. The Council have decided to recognize this act of courage and solidarity by offering Mansour the role of King Baltasar in Málaga’s Three Kings Parade. The decision to have King Balthasar as a dark-skinned man will not be exclusive to this edition. From next year, the role will be chosen based on merit, professional career or outstanding actions, thanks to a new system. Melchor and Gaspar will continue to be played by the brotherhoods and other groups.
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Written by
Johanna Gardener
Originally from Manchester, UK and with a degree in English with Modern Foreign Languages, she has been a permanent resident in Spain for the past 12 years. Many of these years, she has spent working as a secondary school teacher, as well as in journalism, editing and marketing. She currently lives in the historic centre of Malaga, where she enjoys writing, walking and animals.
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