Brain damaged China hero hit by car while trying to save lives of injured strangers denied Good Samaritan award by officials
- Father, 65, sees riders fall off bike, rushes to help, car ploughs into him
- Needs round-the-clock care, told actions not ‘grand’ enough for award
A 65-year-old man in China has been denied a Good Samaritan award by police despite the fact that he tried to save the lives of two people and was knocked down by a car and left in a vegetative state.
Zhang Shaomo was walking along the street in Gongan county, Hubei province in central China on April 7, 2023, when he saw a man and a woman fall off an electric bike, surveillance footage showed.
As Zhang approached the two people and tried to help them up, all three were hit by a car, the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported.
Zhang was the most seriously injured and has remained in a vegetative state since, according to his son whose name was not given in the report.
He said he had applied to the local police authority multiple times since May last year, hoping it would give his father the Good Samaritan award, but his application was repeatedly rejected.
“My father was rescuing people, but officials at the police authority told me what my father did not meet the criteria for a Good Samaritan certificate,” the son said.
When he asked for an explanation of the criteria, officials told him: “Your father did not do a grand gesture, nor was his deed touching or remarkable enough to evoke praise and tears.”
Good Samaritan awards are usually conferred by the local government on people who carry out heroic actions.
The award comes with prize money of up to one million yuan (US$140,000).
In addition to the cash prize, award winners also enjoy preferential medical treatment and admittance to schools of their children.
According to rules outlined by China’s Ministry of Public Security, a Good Samaritan is not strictly defined, but could include actions such as fighting against a crime that jeopardises public safety or property, saving a life, or protecting public property.
At the end of 2023, a county court heard the case filed by Zhang’s son against the driver of the car that knocked over his father.
Court documents showed that he was trying to save two people who were lying on the ground as the vehicle ploughed into him.
“All the evidence supports the fact that my father was saving people. I just cannot figure out why they did not approve my application,” Zhang junior said.
The court ruled that the car driver paid 960,000 yuan (US$133,000) to the Zhang family as compensation, but they had only received 110,000 yuan.
Zhang has been looked after around the clock by his wife who had to quit her job. The son said his father’s condition had placed a great financial burden on the family.
“My father is a good man. But why did he bother to save others?” the baffled and hurt son asked.
The story has resonated deeply with many on mainland social media.
“I think no one will dare help others in future,” one online observer said on Douyin.
“I will educate my kid not to meddle in other people’s business,” another wrote.
“This has made people who have done heroic deeds feel extremely sad,” said a third.
