British diplomat in China earns hero status after river rescue

Video footage showed British Consul General Stephen Ellison jumping fully clothed into the river and pulling the woman to safety - SCREENGRAB FROM WEIBO

BEIJING (AFP): A top British diplomat has become a hero in China after video of him rescuing a student from a swollen river racked up tens of millions of views on social media.

Britain's mission in Chongqing said Monday (Nov 16) that Consul General Stephen Ellison leapt into action in nearby Zhongshan at the weekend to save a woman who had fallen into a river coursing through the tourist town.