Salvadoran lifesaver: My 'heroic rescue' story in Wuxi

Raúl Cortez (4th from L) and Danilo Vega are honored for saving a Chinese couple from drowning on Oct 30 in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

My name is Raúl Cortez, and I am a fisheries and aquaculture management technician at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in El Salvador. This October, along with my colleague Danilo Vega, a project monitoring technician from the Ministry of Public Works, we had the honor of being invited by the Ministry of Commerce of China to the city of Wuxi to receive training at the Seminar on Aquaculture and Climate Change, organized by the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences.

Raúl Cortez, together with other trainees, receives training at the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences in Wuxi. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Before our trip, we had already done some online research on Wuxi, a well-known tourist city in China. We also looked for some places of interest to visit. Once in Wuxi, following the recommendation of our professors, we decided to enjoy the local nightlife at Nanchang Street.

That day, the third day of our stay in China, is etched in my memory. We were on Nanchang Street enjoying the local cuisine and buying some souvenirs. Just as we were about to return to our hotel, we heard cries for help coming from about 10 meters away. Looking in that direction, we saw a young couple, around 20 years old. First, the young woman fell into the water, and then the young man jumped in to try to rescue her but couldn't. Apparently, he didn't know how to swim well and soon began to lose strength and started drowning.

Without thinking, I jumped into the water. We had been advised to always carry our passports and visas with us when we went out, so I handed everything to a colleague before jumping in. I first swam towards the young man, who was closer to me and visibly exhausted. I made three attempts to lift him and then headed towards the lifebuoy, and with the help of the lifebuoy, I was able to bring him to the shore. However, when I tried to go for the young woman, the current had already moved her. At that moment, the water temperature was only 16 degrees, with an even colder wind chill, so by then I had no strength left.

It was then that Danilo, without hesitating, jumped into the water to help with the rescue. Fortunately, other people nearby quickly came to assist, and together, they managed to bring the young woman to the shore.

Raúl Cortez and other trainees pose for a group photo at Wuxi Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During my stay in Wuxi, I experienced some unforgettable moments. The professors at the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center provided us with exceptional support, both academically and personally, making us feel at home. Although we didn't stay long, the warmth, sincerity, and kindness of the Chinese people deeply moved us. China has become my second home, and saving my "Chinese family" was the least I could do.

No matter the place or time, we must always help those in need. This gesture also reflects the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity between El Salvador and China.

The author is a fisheries and aquaculture management technician in El Salvador.

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