In Shenyang, police officer rescued a woman from drowning in a matter of seconds
In extreme situations, a person's true character is revealed in their willingness to act without thinking of themselves. A rescuer, risking his own life, plunges into raging waters to save another, because for him duty and compassion outweigh fear. Every such act reminds us: heroism is not about grand words but about the split‑second decision when a life is at stake.
On Monday in Shenyang, Liaoning Province in northeast China, an auxiliary police officer waded into waist‑deep water and saved a local resident from drowning in just seconds during a heavy downpour that flooded the city. The incident occurred in the Gaokan area of Hunnan District, a residential area with 52 buildings and nearly 3,000 households. As water levels rose and flood control deteriorated, public security and fire departments launched emergency rescue and evacuation operations, with volunteers using loaders to move residents. Auxiliary police officer Sun Peng from the fifth squadron of the Hunnan Traffic Management Brigade joined his colleagues in rescuing trapped residents. Describing the evacuation, he said some were trapped inside their homes, while others were trying to get out of flooded buildings. "Some were locked inside their homes, while others were trying to get out of the flooded buildings. We immediately lifted the trapped residents onto the loader bucket right on the spot. We levelled the bucket and lifted the residents," said Sun. As Sun was helping with the evacuation, a woman suddenly lost her balance and fell into the water. "Probably this woman lost her balance, slipped and fell into the water. When I turned around, I saw that she was in such a state that she could not get up on her own, because she was already flailing her arms in a panic," he said. Sun immediately sprang into action, plunging waist‑deep into the water to pull the woman to safety. "I was about four body lengths away from her. If I had jumped, I would have had to fight through the strong current, which would have taken three or four seconds. But if I dived forward, I could reach her in one go. I supported her head with my hand and lifted her. I didn't hold her, otherwise we both could have drowned. I grabbed her by the collar from behind. After she stood up, she held onto my waist, and we safely reached a safe place," said Sun. In footage captured by an eyewitness, Sun completed the rescue in just a few seconds. "He didn't hesitate for a second. I think less than a second passed before he jumped straight into the water. I think he is really a great man, I am deeply moved, and he is so selfless," said witness Ji Dajuan. "It was an emergency, and there was no time to think, because every sip of water she swallowed threatened her life. At that moment, I only thought that I had to save her, because that's why we came here — to save those in need," said Sun. By the evening, all first‑floor residents and those requiring urgent evacuation had been safely moved out, as water levels in the area began to recede.
The heavy rains, brought by Typhoon Bavi, hit Liaoning Province, causing widespread flooding and infrastructure damage. Rescue services across the region were put on high alert. As CCTV+ reports. Sun Peng's heroic act became a vivid example of selflessness and professionalism that save lives in the face of natural disasters.
