71-year-old Liu Defang jumped into Anhui's Xin Sui River on July 13 to rescue a 30-year-old man who had jumped over a breakup. After 20 minutes, she pulled him ashore, walked home alone, and told no one. Police found her via social media; she got official recognition.
Tags:
A 71-Year-Old Chinese Grandma Jumped Into a River to Save a Young Man Who Gave Up – Then Walked Home and Told No One.
She took off her shoes, grabbed a lifebuoy, and jumped. The man she was swimming toward was 40 years younger – and he was fighting her.
Around 6 pm on July 13, Liu Defang was taking her evening walk along the Xin Sui River bridge in Suixi County, Anhui Province. She heard a splash, then shouting: "A kid fell into the water!"
She ran. A woman nearby handed her a lifebuoy. Liu didn't hesitate.
When she reached the center of the river, she realized the person struggling wasn't a child – it was a man in his early 30s. She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back, but he was panicking and thrashing, draining her strength with every second.
The rescue took about 20 minutes. That's a long time in the water, especially at 71.
As they neared the bank, Liu pushed the man from behind with the last of her strength. Two bystanders pulled him onto dry land. Liu checked his breathing – he was alive. She wrung out her soaked clothes and walked home alone. No name, no phone number.
Check our latest video on China Visa and foreign-related knowledge!
Follow our channel for updates 👇
Police had to search for her.
They reviewed surveillance footage and interviewed witnesses, but the woman who had jumped in was gone. So they posted a video on social media asking for leads. It spread quickly – and Liu's brother recognized her. He called the police, and that's how the public finally learned who had saved the young man.
The 30-year-old had jumped over a breakup, according to local media. He is now out of danger and recovering.
Liu's daughter said the family has mixed feelings. They are proud but also worried. "She is 71," her daughter told local media. "If anything had gone wrong, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
What the grandma says
Liu told reporters she learned to swim years ago at a gym where she used to go with her daughter. She said she's "not a good swimmer" and hadn't been in the water for years. But when she heard someone calling for help, she didn't stop to think.
"I thought it was a child," she said. "That made me rush even more."
She didn't tell her family about the rescue at first because she didn't want them to worry. When she learned that the young man was recovering well, she said: "Young people sometimes get stuck in a moment. When they reach my age, they'll look back and realize nothing is that big of a deal."
The local government has officially recognized Liu's act as a "courageous deed" – a designation that in China comes with a small cash reward and public acknowledgment. Authorities are processing the formal recognition.
"Helping others is just what I do," she said.
Source: 红星新闻
Get daily news, tips, and events in Shanghai
Connect with expat communities and industry experts
For the latest jobs&policy updates, scan the code below to follow AnyJob!
If you have any questions about China visa applications (work visa, company registration and more), please contact our visa consultant Freya.
Click "Wow" if you like this article
No comments:
Post a Comment