Hero China son swept away and killed by raging floodwater after saving mother

The sad but heroic story of a man who died after rescuing his mother from flooding in China has touched the hearts of many on social media.

The 48-year-old swam to his mother and lifted her onto the roof of a nearby house, but was then washed away by the water.

The dramatic incident happened in Shexian county, Anhui province in eastern China, when it was battered by a deluge on June 20.

Rainfall reached 158.5mm within 12 hours, and about 27,000 people in the county were affected, including 4,000 residents who were evacuated, Jimu News reported.

A woman was trapped in a pigpen by the flood when she was feeding the family’s pigs. Realising his mother’s plight, the man, surnamed Xiang, swam to her. He pulled her away and helped her up onto the roof of a neighbour’s home.

As he attempted to swim back to his own home, he was dragged away by the powerful current, his mother said.