On October 26, China News reported on the remarkable life of Huang Zongshi, born in 1974. Huang held multiple roles and earned numerous honors throughout his life. He worked as a regular employee at the Fuding Power Generation Branch of Fujian Mindong Electric Power Co., Ltd., served as a military veteran with a third-class merit, and was a member of the Fuding Blue Sky Rescue Team, distinguished for his bravery in saving lives. Despite battling illness, he remained actively involved in various ecological and environmental protection initiatives.
“Having stood on the edge of life, I truly understand the value of life,” Huang once shared. He believed in making the most of his time in this world, doing what he felt necessary, taking on new experiences, and helping others without leaving regrets behind.
Huang’s heroic actions made him a local symbol of courage, and his story has been prominently featured in campaigns promoting social morality.
One such incident occurred on June 17, 2020, when Huang was warming up at the swimming base by the Tongshan River and heard desperate cries for help—someone was drowning. Without hesitation, Huang rushed to the scene and, defying his own health challenges, leapt into the water to rescue a man who was about 20 meters offshore. With the help of others, they performed CPR and managed to revive the man.
“It was instinctual; anyone would help if they saw someone drowning,” recounted Zhu Shoujian, a member of the Fuding Swimming Association who assisted in the rescue. In a tense situation, he recalled only thinking about saving the life in front of them.
After successfully rescuing one victim, Huang heard cries for another person still in the water. He immediately submerged three times, but tragically, the second victim had been underwater too long and showed no signs of life. “Rescuing two people certainly tests a rescuer’s physical stamina, skills, and determination, but Huang went in without a second thought,” Zhu noted. Although he felt deep regret about the second victim, he recognized that not every situation offers a second chance.
In recognition of his bravery, the Fuding Municipal Police awarded Huang as an “Advanced Individual for Courage” in June 2020. The following year, he was honored again as a “Courageous Individual” in Ningde. “Despite his illness, his optimistic and proactive attitude while cherishing each day hugely inspired me,” Zhu said. Each life he saved filled Huang with immense satisfaction and purpose.
As a dedicated member of the Fuding Blue Sky Rescue Team, Huang participated in over 27 educational events, 18 rescues, and three drills by 2020, earning the Excellent Education Award for three consecutive years. Wu Weiru, the team leader, recounted Huang’s commitment to leading rescues with exemplary skill. Even after his diagnosis in 2018, Huang persevered with daily exercise, patrolling for safety near the river, educating children against drowning, and advocating for ecological conservation.
Wu shared the concern his family held for him. “Whenever he went out to rescue someone, I worried immensely, but I knew he was answering a call for help,” his wife expressed.
For the past six years, members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team offered support for Huang, whether by monitoring his health, organizing equipment cleaning, coordinating fundraising, or visiting him.
Wu reminisced, “During one rescue, Huang said, ‘In my limited life, if I can save one more person, I’ve gained.’” Reflecting on the memories, Wu became emotional, lamenting the sudden loss of a teammate who fought alongside them.
In his daily life, Huang was deeply committed to public service, regularly donating blood and receiving the Chinese Red Cross Volunteer Service Four-Star Medal and a National Blood Donation Bronze Medal for the 2016-2017 period. He actively participated in community tree planting and organized volunteer efforts for local clean-up and water source protection, inspiring those around him, especially children.
Huang served as the head of the water machine team at the Fuding Power Generation Branch for over 20 years, bringing with him the disciplined work ethic he developed in the military. “When I joined the power plant in 1996, Huang made an impression on me as a competent and decisive person,” said his colleague and roommate Ye Guoqiang. Huang’s unwavering commitment and meticulous attention to detail prevented significant accidents, including a potential flooding of the pump room after he identified a malfunction during routine inspections.
“Huang’s leadership enabled the power station to operate safely for over 20 years with zero accidents, which was crucial for alleviating the city’s electricity demands,” Ye added.
Sadly, Huang passed away due to illness on July 22, 2024. Throughout his life, he garnered multiple accolades, including the 2020 “Most Beautiful Red Cross Rescuer” in Fujian Province, moral model recognition from Ningde City in 2021, and listings on the “Fujian Good Person List” and “Ningde Good Person List” for acts of bravery.
“It feels like such a loss to have such a wonderful person leave us so suddenly. Thinking about him sometimes brings tears to my eyes,” Ye reflected. “His spirit is something that everyone should strive to emulate.”
