Villager acclaimed for saving a life

Zhuang Jixin saves the old woman from drowning. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A 60-year-old villager from Wuxi became a local hero on July 20 after saving an elderly woman who had fallen down a well.

Zhuang Jixin was alerted to the emergency when a neighbor told him she had heard some weird noises coming from the village well. When he arrived at the well, he found a person floating in the water, five meters below ground level.

Zhuang immediately tied a rope to his waist and climbed down to help her. The old lady had a head wound, but was still conscious.

Using all his strength, Zhuang lifted the woman above the water. Feet wedged into the walls of the well, the 60-year-old held them both there for 90 minutes, braving the 39-degree heat and the mosquito bites.

After a fire crew eventually arrived to rescue the two villagers, Zhuang refused to play the hero. He put his amazing feat of endurance down to regular exercise.

"I don't want to play the hero. I just did what I was supposed to do in that situation," said Zhuang.