Liu Yang was rescued in an instant (screenshot from TV)
Tang Wei Gang
□ Follow-up to "Female reporter falls into the water and is saved"
Without a life jacket, he managed to rescue the female reporter who fell into the raging floodwaters... Who would have thought that this brave person was actually a severely disabled individual with a serious back injury. Yesterday, our relevant reports attracted strong attention from readers. With the help of enthusiastic citizens, Tang Wei Gang, the villager from Dujiangyan Longchi Town who bravely saved Liu Yang, a female reporter from Chengdu Television Station, was finally found.
"This is very normal; I didn't even have time to think about myself when saving someone." Still wearing the blue and white striped T-shirt he had on during the rescue, Tang Wei Gang calmly said that he welcomes Liu Yang to come back to Dujiangyan for interviews and hopes to invite her for a meal and become friends.
Tang Wei Gang, 33 years old, is from Group 6, Nan Yue Village, Longchi Town, Dujiangyan City. He and his wife have been running a foot care shop in the urban area of Dujiangyan City for a long time. Around 1:00 PM on August 15th, the flash floods in Longchi Town were still rising rapidly. Since he couldn't get in touch with his parents at their old house in Nan Yue Village, Tang Wei Gang tried every possible way to return to Longchi Town. By then, the ferocious flood had already washed away the bridge, making it difficult to enter the mountainous area. Fortunately, the fire department, special police, and armed police used three bamboo poles to build a temporary crossing over the river, allowing Tang Wei Gang to successfully cross the river.
Just as Tang Wei Gang was waiting for his companions to cross the bridge on the other side of the river, the surging flood suddenly overturned the makeshift bridge, causing Chengdu Television female reporter Liu Yang to fall into the water! The rescue personnel around her wanted to grab her, but the swift river current quickly swept Liu Yang dozens of meters away. "I am a former soldier, and I jumped into the river without even thinking," at the critical moment, despite not wearing a life jacket, Tang Wei Gang plunged into the river, desperately chasing after Liu Yang. They were both swept far downstream by the rapid floodwaters before being pulled ashore by several rescue personnel. In the video footage recorded by the accompanying Dujiangyan Television reporter, Tang Wei Gang's only visible presence was that of a robust back in a blue and white striped T-shirt.
"Rescuing people is very normal; life is more valuable than anything. I don't want any reward," Tang Wei Gang said. After the female reporter was rescued, she was relatively conscious. He soon left, continuing his search for his parents in the mountains.
Currently, Tang Wei Gang's house has been completely destroyed by the flood. Fortunately, he successfully rescued his parents and they moved into a relocation point in Dujiangyan. However, due to his pre-existing severe back injury and being an eighth-level disabled person, he sustained bruises all over his body while risking his life to save someone, requiring him to rest at home for several days. It was the kind-hearted neighbors who heard about his heroic deed and secretly "reported" him.
At 10:00 PM last night, Liu Yang, still recuperating at home with injuries, excitedly jumped up after receiving a call from Huaxi Metropolis Daily informing her that they had "found her benefactor." Upon hearing that her savior was a disabled person, she exclaimed repeatedly, "He is too selfless!"
Liu Yang said that after Huaxi Metropolis Daily reported on her being saved from falling into the water, for several consecutive days, caring calls from across the country kept coming. Liu Yang expressed that she will immediately contact Tang Wei Gang, the villager who saved her, by phone to express her gratitude. Once her foot injury heals and she can walk again, she will rush to Dujiangyan to personally thank this brother who is closer than family. Reported by Huaxi Metropolis Daily journalist Wang Dan and intern Zhu Li with photographic coverage.
Source: CCTV News Channel - A female reporter encountered danger during an interview and was swept dozens of meters by the flood. Play Video