‘Ordinary hero’: Chinese food delivery driver dies trying to save elderly woman, community raises money for young family

The driver jumped into a river after noticing an elderly woman slip and fall into the water

The community rallied to save money for the man, who left behind a wife, a young daughter and two elderly parents

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Wang Jiang died when he tried to saving an elderly woman drowning in a river. Photo: QQ

Published: 6:00pm, 2 Dec 2021

A community in central China launched a fundraising campaign to support the family of a delivery man who died while trying to save a drowning woman last week.

Wang Jing, 32, jumped into a river in Jingzhou, in the central province of Hubei, after seeing an 85-year-old woman was struggling to stay afloat after she slipped and fell into the water. The woman did not survive.

Wang was on his way to deliver a lunch when he saw the elderly woman tumble into the river, according to Hubei TV.

Residents in Jingzhou gather around an area where a delivery driver and elderly woman died. Photo: QQ

Over the weekend, local officials gave Wang posthumous official honours, declaring him a “role model”, “outstanding youth” and “most beautiful worker”.

Wang’s wife said, “My husband is very obedient to his parents and I will try my best to support this family. I will do it for him.”

Residents banded together to support Wang’s family after learning he took care of two ailing parents and has a 6-year-old daughter. Fundraisers took to the streets on Sunday to appeal to the public to support an “ordinary hero”.

One woman said: “I passed by and saw the donation poster, so I gave a bit of money. His death hurts my heart.”