Rescue workers die during relief missions

Wang Hongchun, a volunteer rescue worker from Beijing, has died during a flood relief mission, Beijing Daily reported on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Wang and fellow members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team rushed to carry out an evacuation mission in Beijing's Fangshan district, which had been battered by relentless downpours.

On the way to a flooded village, Wang and several other team members noticed the base of a bridge was severely damaged. They decided to stay at the site to ensure the safety of passing vehicles and people.

On Monday morning, the river surged suddenly and Wang and her colleagues were trapped in a flash flood. They immediately deserted their vehicles and jumped in an inflatable boat.

However, the boat overturned in the floodwaters' torrents and all eight people on the boat were swept away.

After an intensive search, six members of the team were rescued. On Tuesday, Wang's body was found about 30 kilometers downstream. One team member is still missing.

Wang, a property company executive, was one of the first members of Fangshan's Blue Sky Rescue Team. An enthusiastic volunteer, she often paid the expenses of the team out of her own pocket. In 2013, after she had just joined the rescue team, Wang spent 4,700 yuan ($654) to buy equipment used in mountain rescue missions.

She is survived by a 6-year-old daughter.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, as Typhoon Doksuri hit Quanzhou, Fujian province, a member of the Quanzhou Blue Sky Rescue Team passed away.

Chen Yuansheng, 53, suddenly fell ill and was sent to the hospital.

According to Quanzhou Evening News, at around 5 am, after the typhoon had been on land for about 19 hours, Chen received instructions to do support work in Honglai town in the city. He had been on standby for four days.

Chen and his teammates arrived in Honglai at around 9 am and immediately started rescue work.

At around 5:30 pm, the town was totally flooded. According to the local water resources authority from 2 am to 8 am rainfall at Honglai station was 224 millimeters, the highest amount recorded since 1954. Chen evacuated a total of 22 people by rubber boat.

Chen suddenly felt unwell and had cold sweats all over his body. He told his teammates, "I feel a bit tired" and "I want to rest for a while". The team members sensed that something was wrong, took emergency measures and rushed him to the hospital. He passed away at 10 pm.

Chen joined the Quanzhou Blue Sky Rescue Team in 2021, as the leader of the equipment team. He had accumulated a total of 1,417 hours doing public welfare rescue service.

A memorial service for Chen was held on Wednesday.

Many residents came to bid him farewell and recognize his heroic work.