A 71-year-old grandmother who recently taught herself to swim leaped into a river to save a man from drowning in China’s Anhui province on July 13. The woman, Liu Defang, was reportedly chatting with friends when she heard calls for help.
Video footage showed a man climbing over a bridge railing and plunging into the river, apparently attempting suicide. Liu quickly responded, removing her shoes and grabbing a lifebuoy before jumping into the water to reach the man. Initially believing it to be a child, she became anxious. Upon reaching him, she discovered he was a man in his 30s.
Despite the man’s attempts to break free, Liu managed to pull him to shore, where two residents assisted in getting him to safety. Liu then left the scene quietly. She described the rescue, which lasted about 20 minutes, as “not a big deal” and chose not to inform her family for fear of them worrying.
When a video of the rescue went viral on social media, police initiated a search for the woman. Liu’s older brother recognized her in the footage and contacted authorities. Police subsequently honored the grandmother for her bravery. Her brother reportedly admonished her for taking such risks at her age.
Liu, described as a fitness enthusiast who practices yoga, learned to swim after her retirement. She expressed a desire to comfort the man she saved, offering words of encouragement: “Any difficulties will come to an end. Nothing is as important as life. Don’t give up too easily.”