‘Heroes should wear glasses?’: man in China who saved drowning person pushes back criticism he looks nothing like a hero with dyed hair and tattoos
- Feng was walking over a bridge in China when he heard someone struggling and dove into the river to save them
- His red underpants led many to conclude he is a gang member as they stereotypically wear bright colours
A Chinese man who dove into icy water to save a man from drowning has become a major trending news item on the mainland, not for his bravery, but because of his dyed red hair and tattoos that many felt did not fit the image of a hero.
The man, surnamed Feng, was walking with friends over a bridge in Wuxi in eastern China’s Jiangsu province last week when he heard someone struggling in the river and calling for help, Jimu News reported.
Feng, who grew up in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in southern China, which is famous for its many rivers, is a strong swimmer and did not hesitate to dive into the icy water and pull the man to safety.
After the man was rescued, he thanked Feng, who advised him to go home and change into warm clothes to avoid getting sick after being in the water, which was 5 degrees Celsius that day.
“For me, it was as easy as turning a finger. So after saving the man’s life, I felt peaceful in my heart,” said Feng.
After rescuing the man Feng posted on social media about water safety and advised people to take off heavy clothing before entering the water in winter if rescuing someone and to hold the person from behind, rather than the front.
