On October 29, two children in Liuhexiang Town of Taicang City were playing by the river when they accidentally fell into the water. One child drowned. Yesterday, a netizen revealed that the child had drowned while saving his companion. The reporter learned that both children are from Guizhou province and the child who drowned was 10 years old. Currently, the local police station is applying for an award for bravery for this "little hero".
Yesterday, Principal Chen of Taicang Red Flag Primary School told reporters over the phone: "The child who fell into the water is surnamed Zhang, and he is five years old and in kindergarten. The child who saved him is surnamed He, and he is in the second class of the fourth grade and is 10 years old." Principal Chen introduced that at around 1 PM on October 29, Xiao He and Xiao Zhang were playing by the river with several other students. Xiao Zhang wanted to wash his hands by the river and accidentally fell into the water. Xiao He picked up a skipping rope nearby and tried to rescue Xiao Zhang, but ended up being dragged into the water himself.
Principal Chen said that after hearing the cries of the children, Zhang Wenxiang, an electrician at a fire door factory, rushed over and jumped into the river without even taking out his mobile phone, rescuing Xiao Zhang onto the shore. Afterwards, Zhang Wenxiang returned to save Xiao He, but could not find him.
Xiao He's homeroom teacher, Ms. Sun Yan, said that Red Flag Primary School is a migrant worker's children school, and Xiao He is from Guizhou province, where both of his parents work in Taicang. Xiao He is usually honest and warm-hearted; when the duty student was late, he would voluntarily take the broom to sweep the floor, and all the students in the class like him. After hearing about Xiao He's incident, all the classmates cried.
Xiao He's father, Mr. He Kailong, told reporters that at first he thought both children had fallen into the water together, but later eyewitnesses confirmed that Xiao He had drowned while trying to save someone. Mr. He Kailong said that they are neighbors with Xiao Zhang's family and also come from the same hometown, so they often visit each other.
It is understood that Xiao He is the eldest at home, with a younger brother and sister. "Xiao He is a 'little adult' at home, cooking, washing clothes, boiling water, and doing everything enthusiastically," Mr. He Kailong said. Xiao He's grades are average, and his handwriting is rather ugly. "I've been nagging him to practice writing well, but unfortunately, there's no more opportunity now." He expressed that his child is a "little hero" and hopes to apply for an award for bravery for him.
Yesterday afternoon, it was confirmed from Liuhexiang Police Station of Taicang Public Security Bureau that an application for bravery award has been submitted for Xiao He, and also for Zhang Wenxiang who saved Xiao Zhang.
Intern reporter Sun Jiahua, Jiang Wenhao contributed to this report.