China hero, saved countless flood victims 2 years ago, basks in public blessings after son’s birth
Man risked own life to open dam lock gate, preventing structure from collapsing and flooding area downstream
A heroic man from southwest China, who risked his life two years ago to save countless villagers during a flooding crisis, recently celebrated the birth of his son in August, receiving a wave of congratulations on the mainland internet.
On September 5, 2022, a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan province, near a dam where Gan Yu and his colleague, Luo Yong, were working. Faced with the imminent threat of a dam collapse, the pair undertook a courageous endeavour by climbing to the top of the structure and opening the lock gate.
This action released water from the reservoir, effectively averting a catastrophic flood that would have endangered hundreds of villagers living downstream, as reported by Sichuan-based media outlet The Cover.
Gan, now 30, said on social media that his son was born at a hospital on August 16 in Sichuan.
“Finally, you’ve come. My only wish is that you will be safe and happy and grow up healthily,” he wrote.
