72-year-old winter swimming fan has saved hundreds from drowning

Huang Kaihui, 72, from Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, braves the cold in the Huaxi River, March 12, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Huang Kaihui, 72, from Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, has saved over 100 people from drowning in his 20 years of swimming in the Huaxi River, Guizhou Metropolitan Daily reported on Monday.

Huang really is a fan of swimming and is enthusiastic about winter swimming. He started the exercise 49 years ago when he was a young adult. Many waters in the city at some point have been his swimming pools. Since 1999, he has made swimming in the Huaxi River almost a daily routine.

Huang always leaves home at eight in the morning, bringing swimwear and goggles with him, and takes a two-hour bus ride to get to the river. Even in winter when the temperature drops below 0 C, he will brave the cold and swim for at least one hour a day.

Besides Huang, many other people visit the Huaxi River all year round. In summer, a surging number of people, including students from the college nearby, will come and barbeque on its banks. A person falling into the water is not a rare occurrence.

However, due to regular swimming habits over the two decades, Huang often has been around when a dangerous situation arises.

"I have swum for decades. Most of the time, I can tell who is in danger in the water and come to his rescue in time. But there also have been a few situations where I came late and tragedies happened. When I didn't save people, I felt a sense of responsibility and guilt," Huang said.

"I never ask for a reward anytime I save lives. The only thing I ask is that the people who almost drown are all safe. As I am getting older and older, I hope that more young people could get into swimming, build their bodies and contribute more to society," Huang said.