Amateur paddle-boarder becomes local hero after saving dozens trapped in floodwater

Yu Zuen, a paddle board enthusiast in central China's Pingjiang County, has impressed many with his selflessness and bravery after rescuing over 50 residents stuck in raging floodwaters.

The Pingjiang County of Hunan Province was hit by torrential rains earlier this month, triggering flash floods that inundated large swathes of the downtown area. The water levels in some flooded road sections were as deep as three meters.

Yu, an emergency worker at Hanchang Subdistrict Office, was dispatched to evacuate residents with his colleagues. As the situation became critical, he thought of the paddle board at home.

"We usually use this paddle board to save people from drowning. I didn't expect that it would be so helpful in a major disaster," Yu told China Central Television (CCTV).

The flood-hit area has many winding and narrow alleys, making it hard for ordinary rubber boats to enter. After fetching the paddle board, Yu first arrived at an old residential compound where the exit of the first-floor corridor was submerged. As the water level rose, residents had no choice but to go upstairs floor by floor and wait for rescue. The incessant heavy rain had sparked panic among people.

"I had been trapped for a day and a night. I didn't know the water was so deep. He paddled over after learning of my situation and managed to open the window. He held the paddle board steady with one hand and carried me down with the other hand and placed me at the front of the paddle board," said Yu Chonggao, a resident.

As the water was deeper than expected, the rescuer had to swim with the paddle board to transfer stranded residents.

"When jumping into the water, I planned to step on the ground and pulled it (the paddle board) along. But I couldn't reach the bottom even standing on tiptoes. Then I had to swim while pulling the paddle board to evacuate the residents," said Yu Zuen.

With so many people waiting to be rescued, Yu sent a message asking for help at the Wechat group composed of paddle board lovers like him and received positive responses from 12 persons.

The rescuers rushed to the worst-hit areas with their paddle boards. But they quickly found that saving people from floodwater via paddle boards was not as easy as their regular training sessions.

"Some sharp objects in the corridor could easily scratch our paddle boards. I remember that three paddle boards were deflated. Our team members had to overcome the difficulties, inflate them again and continue with the rescue operation," said Wu Canbin, coach of the Pingjiang Paddle Boarder Team.

Around 1,200 people had been evacuated by the peddle boarders between July 1 to 2. As the rain stopped and floodwater receded, the rescuers shifted their focus from relocating people to transporting supplies.

Among them, 42-year-old Yu Zuen, who had served in the army from 2001 to 2013 and became a community worker after retirement, delivered an outstanding performance by saving more than 50 trapped residents and transporting supplies for over 60 trips.

After the rescue operation, Yu also took the initiative to join in post-flood clear-up and recovery. He has been wearing a knee brace during work. He had a ligament reconstruction surgery on his left knee last year and is still in the stage of recovery. But he has never been absent from flood prevention, rescue, relief and restoration efforts.

"I can swim. I am quite strong. And I am a paddle board enthusiast. That means I'm qualified for the rescue operation. In addition, as an ex-serviceman, I still feel an obligation to serve the people," said Yu.

Amateur paddle-boarder becomes local hero after saving dozens trapped in floodwater

Residents at a temporary shelter in South Korea are coming to terms with the shock of losing their homes in the worst wildfires in the country's history, with the deadly blazes which have been burning since late last month forcing tens of thousands of people to be evacuated.

The devastating fires -- which first erupted back on March 21 -- have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured dozens of others, while more than 3,500 houses and 30 national heritage sites have been damaged.

The flames have so far spread across more than 48,000 hectares of land, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

Shell-shocked local people have been sharing the horrifying stories of how they became overwhelmed by the fast-spreading flames and had to rush from their homes.

Jo Soo-gap, a resident of the Yeongdeok County in the severely affected North Gyeongsang Province, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) of the moment the flames approached.

"We didn't think it would come all the way to our area. That evening, while we were at home, the wind picked up. It felt stronger than a typhoon. I thought it was getting dangerous, so l was preparing to leave with my wife. Then suddenly a neighbor shouted, 'The fire's coming! Get out now!' So we just got in the car and drove toward Pohang,” he recalled.

"When we finally returned at dawn, we found our house had completely burned down and collapsed. Other homes, even if they were mostly destroyed, still had some parts of the frame left. But ours was a two-story villa-style home, and it had completely caved in – flattened right down to its foundation. There was nothing for us left to retrieve,” lamented Jo.

He expressed the hope that the government would help him and his family, as well as the many others affected, to rebuild their homes, while issuing a clear warning to others about the dangers posed by wildfires.

"We hope recovery efforts can proceed quickly, and that the government or local authorities can provide permanent housing so we can rebuild our lives. Fire prevention is no small matter, people should never carry any flammable objects when going into the mountains or fields. I want to emphasize this very clearly," he said.

Meanwhile, Kim Woo-seok, chairman of the Pohang Medical Association, explained how medics are handling the various problems brought by the wildfires, with a particular focus being placed on the welfare of those suffering from chronic diseases.

"The most pressing concern for us is people with chronic illnesses, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes who need to constantly take their medication. Some patients did not have time to grab their medicines during the evacuation, and the drug withdrawal can cause sudden spikes in their blood pressure or blood sugar levels. So it's crucial that we monitor and stabilize their conditions as quickly as possible,” he said.

Kim stressed that the psychological trauma brought by the wildfires is the most pressing issue, as people slowly come to terms with the significant losses they have suffered.

"However, the biggest emotional shock comes from losing one's home or seeing a loved one fall ill. Those situations can cause severe emotional trauma. People can develop symptoms like panic attacks or depression as a result. These issues require proper counseling and treatment, as the emotional stress can also cause physical symptoms, such as back pain or joint pain. Those are the common cases we see," he said.

Shell-shocked South Korean evacuees lament loss of homes in deadly wildfires