Final heroic trek forged in mud, sweat
Holidaying railwayman who lost his life helping others in flood-hit Guangxi mourned by millions online
Ma, who worked alongside Dang for six years until he was transferred to another railway station two years ago, still struggles to accept the loss.
"In my eyes, he has always been towering — not just in stature, but in spirit," Ma said.
The two young men had three other close friends. The five had made a pact: once they all started families, they would travel together with their loved ones.
Before Dang left for his trip, they had planned to meet up after his vacation. That promise was never kept.
But the image endures of a tall young man with a ready smile, adjusting his backpack on a muddy mountain road, motioning for "a little more", before heading into the floodwaters to help people he had never met.
Zhao Junfeng in Chengdu contributed to this story.
Contact the writers at pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn
