BEIJING: A policeman from eastern China and his wife saved a family of five from a crashed car dangling over a steep slope during their honeymoon, earning widespread praise for their bravery.
The 28-year-old civil policeman from Jiangsu province, Fan Kaiyue, and his wife, social worker Gu Jianing, were enjoying their honeymoon on the southern Chinese island province of Hainan.
On July 20, while travelling along a mountainous highway, they spotted a car that had crashed through the crash barrier and was teetering over the edge.
Thick smoke billowed from the vehicle, accompanied by the sounds of children crying and screaming from inside.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Fan pulled over and rushed to the accident scene.
“Don’t panic, I’m a police officer! We’ll get you out of here right away!” Fan reassured the trapped family of five as he dialled the police and emergency numbers.
Meanwhile, his wife Gu dashed to the middle of the road to stop passing cars and solicit help from other drivers.
Working together with Fan, the other drivers aided in rescuing the three children first, and then returned to help the parents escape the vehicle.
The family was then carried to safety at the top of the slope to await the ambulance.
Despite suffering multiple abrasions from the sharp plants on the slope, Fan tirelessly ran back and forth, ignoring his injuries.
Once emergency personnel arrived, Fan coordinated with the medical staff to assist with the rescue effort. He continued to help until local police arrived to take over.
He later posted photos of the rescue on his private social media account, including a selfie featuring his bloodied, worn-out white T-shirt.
“Successfully rescued two adults and three minors from the car. Can’t believe I performed a police task in Hainan,” he exclaimed.
The Jiangsu Police reported Fan’s Good Samaritan deed, commenting: “Though not on his patch, not wearing a police uniform or equipped for the situation, at the moment he heard the cries for help, he had only one identity: People’s Police.”
The rescued driver reached out to the Jiangsu Police to express her gratitude, stating that the children only suffered minor bruises, while she sustained a bone fracture. Fortunately, all of them were out of danger.
Fan and Gu met in 2019 and tied the knot in June. Although their honeymoon trip was disrupted, Gu expressed her pride, saying she is “proud of him.”
“They are a great match. Wishing them a happy marriage and a peaceful life,” commented an observer online. - South China Morning Post
