Heroic man dies saving family from drowning in Hainan

A man from Guangdong province has died after rescuing a family of three from drowning in Wanning, Hainan province.

Wu Qiuzhong, a resident of Shantou city, lost his life during the rescue attempt at a seaside scenic area on Friday afternoon. A tourist from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, surnamed Yu, was trying to save his two daughters, who had been swept from shallow waters into deeper currents, when Wu rushed to help.

Despite successfully saving the family, Wu suffered from physical exhaustion and later died.

Local authorities in Wanning are assisting Wu's family with related affairs and coordinating with counterparts in Guangdong for recognition and compensation, a statement said.

The Wanning Good Samaritan Foundation has awarded Wu and four others involved in the rescue 20,000 yuan ($2,783) each, with an additional 10,000 yuan for Wu's family. The Shantou Good Samaritan Foundation has also granted Wu's family 50,000 yuan.

According to Guangdong provincial regulations, individuals who die or become disabled while performing Good Samaritan acts may receive awards of up to one million yuan.