In Just 10 Seconds, Foreign Woman Saves Boy From Rushing River

Source: OT-Team(G), 极目新闻

At noon on August 7, a dramatic yet heartwarming rescue unfolded near the North Gate Pier of the Fenghuang Ancient Town scenic area in Hunan Province. 

A young boy playing along the banks of the Tuo River accidentally fell into the water and was quickly swept away by the current.

Surveillance footage captured the entire rescue. In a split second, a foreign female tourist walking on a nearby bridge and the boy's grandfather on the riverbank both leapt into the water without hesitation. Acting swiftly, the tourist reached the boy first, holding him tightly to prevent him from being carried away again. With seamless teamwork, the pair brought the boy safely to shore in under 30 seconds.

An eyewitness told reporters the incident may have been even faster than it appeared on camera — "possibly less than ten seconds" from the fall to the rescue. According to the witness, the boy slipped while playing in the shallows and was pulled under a wooden plank bridge by the current. The foreign tourist, seeing the danger from the bridge, immediately dived in, with the grandfather jumping in right after. Other nearby visitors also moved quickly to assist.

Mr. Liu, who filmed the video, said the boy's head was already submerged and the current was swift. Several people onshore had already started to sprint toward the water to help but stopped when they saw the boy safely in the rescuers' arms. Liu explained that he had originally been filming the scenery and had not expected to capture such a gripping yet touching moment. He later shared the video with the foreign tourist as a keepsake.