- An Shufang was in the middle of a brain surgery when a powerful 7.1 magnitude quake hit the Xinjiang region
The medical team saved a life by staying brave during an earthquake.
The medical team saved a life by staying brave during an earthquake.
Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
On January 23, a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit China’s Xinjiang region. An Shufang is a neurosurgeon who was in the middle of a brain surgery when the quake began, but he and his team still successfully completed the operation.
A surveillance video shows An next to the operating table when the earthquake rocks the room. The medics pause their work as medical devices rattle all around them.
As the tremors become more severe, An holds onto the operating table and urges his team not to panic. An tells the group: “Stay calm, stay calm.”
As the shaking lessens, An says: “I must save the patient, so I have to stay here despite the earthquake.”
The team continues and finishes the procedure despite the risks of aftershocks.
When reporters asked An if he was scared, the surgeon said he was focused on saving the patient: “We make sure that we put our patients first.”
The video got millions of views on social media, and many comments praised the doctor and his team.