This situation, though, could happen in any society. The baby being at risk can happen to anyone and is a mistake on the parents part. A man saw a baby in danger, and risked breaking bones, possibly death, to secure the baby. That’s behavior France wants to reward, and they offered something within their authority.

Even further, it kind of sends the message that France wants this kind of person in their club more than “yeah sure dude you deserve to be French now”.