A miracle was on everyone's lips recently among people of Shiquan County, Shaanxi Province. That is, Zhang Xigui, director of the People's Armed Forces Department of the Chengguan Township, ran for 4 kilometers, and jumped into floodwater twice to rescue the farmer Fang Fayin, who was swept away by the floodwater for over one hour.

　　In the wee hours of August 29, an unusual torrential rain hit Shiquan County of Shaanxi Province. The water of the Daba River, a tributary of the Hanjiang River, rise suddenly and sharply. The local government ordered residents along the river to evacuate immediately. At 11:40 am, Fang Fayin, a villager of the Chengguan Township, who had already moved to a safe place, returned home without notice, for worrying about properties at home. However, he had hardly entered the house when the flood rushed in, and the window was soon overwhelmed by floodwater. In a moment of desparation, Fang climbed onto the roof of the house and cried for help. Director of the People's Armed Forces Department of the Chengguan Township Zhang Xigui, who was leading militiamen fighting the flood, heard the cry. He immediately put on a life vest, jumped into the water and swam towards Fang. By then, the fierce floodwater had overwhelmed the house completely. Fang hung on to a telephone pole tightly. Soon, the telephone pole was swept down, Fang grasped a large mulberry tree beside him. Just as Zhang was approaching him, the mulberry tree was pulled up by flood and Fang was washed away.

　　When the first try failed, Zhang climbed onto the bank and jumped into a car to follow Fang along the river without putting on clothes. He tried to look for opportunities to rescue Fang under a bridge at the Yangjiaba section of the river. However the floodwater ran so rapidly with mud, sand, grass and trees that no one could approach Fang. Zhang ordered the car to rush to a steel bridge on the Raofeng River. The car had hardly stopped when he jumped off and rushed to the riverside. He stared at the river and waited for Fang.

　　At 12:30, Fang, struggling in waves, emerged in the floodwater on the Raofeng River 4 kilometers away from the place where he was first washed away. Fang was just about to be flushed into Hanjiang River when Zhang jumped again into the onrush. With the help of the armed police soldiers and militiamen, 25 minutes later, Zhang finally rescued Fang who narrowly escaped from death.

　　By Ma Lezhong, Zhang Jinhua and Luo Xianwu

　　(September 11, PLA Daily)