Zhejiang fisherman prioritizes lives over lucrative catch in second sea rescue

A fisherman in eastern China has once again put lives before livelihood, rescuing 16 foreign sailors at sea.

Shen Huazhong, a seasoned fisherman with 26 years of experience, was working off the coast of Zhoushan when he spotted a distress signal amidst heavy fog on Tuesday. Despite having just deployed 6,000 crab cages — worth an estimated 360,000 yuan ($50,000) — Shen prioritized the potential emergency.

"There was fog on the sea, visibility was poor," Shen told ThePaper.cn on Wednesday. "We saw thick smoke about three nautical miles away. Based on my experience, it meant someone was likely in the water."

Shen's instincts proved correct. He quickly ordered his crew to cut the crab cage ropes, sacrificing their potential catch for a faster response. Upon reaching the source, they discovered one person in the water and another 15 clinging to a lifeboat, with a sunken vessel nearby.

Using a steel ladder, Shen's crew rescued the individual in the water before safely bringing all 16 foreign sailors aboard. The rescued crew were identified as employees of a coal-carrying ship that had sunk prior to their rescue.

This act of selflessness wasn't Shen's first. In September 2021, he abandoned another lucrative crab cage operation to rescue 16 crew members from a nearby fishing boat that had lost contact.

Shen's dedication to saving lives at sea has earned him recognition. He was awarded the title of Zhejiang "Good Samaritan" Moral Model and "Most Beautiful Zhejiang Resident and Zhejiang Pride" in 2021.