Hero's instincts took over as world turned upside down
After Lee Ming-sun got his children to a life raft in the Lamma ferry disaster, he returned for his wife … then he heard a stranger's calls for help
It was National Day last year. And what was supposed to be a family outing with friends to see the fireworks display in Victoria Harbour became a nightmare for Lee Ming-sun as he tried to keep his family alive in one of Hong Kong's worst maritime disasters.
But it was also a night that saw Lee display tremendous heroism when he gave up his search for his wife in order to help a drowning man.
In the end, he, his wife and two children were all reunited following the tragedy that claimed 39 lives, including eight children.
Lee, 48, and his family had been invited by a friend to join a boat party organised by Hongkong Electric to watch the fireworks on Victoria Harbour on October 1.
But after setting off from Lamma Island, their boat, the Lamma IV, collided with a Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry's Sea Smooth off Yung Shue Wan. The Hongkong Electric boat sank within minutes.
Lee, who manages an engineering business, grew up in Big Wave Bay, where he still lives, and is not only a skilled swimmer but trained in life-saving. He has been married for 13 years and has a daughter, 10, and two-year-old son.
