By Qian Jing
Joshua Freund is a Canadian guy. As a new-comer in Shanghai, he likes to take a stroll with his friends at night. And the night of November 13 is not a quiet one for him – he jumped into the cold Huangpu River when viewing on the Bund to save an old man over 60 years old at the cost of breaking his leg. Lately, the reporter has come to Shanghai Pacican Academy and met this “Foreign Lei Feng” on his crutches.
“I do not regret jumping into the water at all.” Joshua Freund talks about what happened that night while trying to put his casted leg in a high place to ensure blood circulation. At about 22:00 on the evening of December 13, he and his friends were enjoying the view at the Bund when he suddenly found that an old man in his sixties was floating with waves. He then immediately gave his belongings to his friends and leaped into the freezing water to save the old man.
Though he is familiar with water, he suddenly felt the acute pain from his right ankle when leaping into the water. It was found later that his legs suffered a shock as the tide was ebbing and the water was at a low level. However, he swiftly seized the drowning old man despite of the severe pain and supported him from under the water. The freezing water gradually made him tired and he can only wait for rescue by holding a flotage in the antifouling belt.
The harbor police arrived to site two minutes after receiving the alarm. However, as the water level was very low, the lifeboat was hard to get close and the situation was very urgent. “It was 10 o’clock at night and the visibility was very poor. Many people on the bank thus used their flashlight on mobile phones to help light up the way.” the police on duty recalled. Through the cooperation of the all people, Joshua Freund and the old man were rescued to the shore. At that time, Joshua’s right ankle swelled like a steamed bun and was sent to the hospital together with the old man for treatment. And the old man turned out to be all right at last.
In face of the reporter, this 24-year-old “Foreign Lei Feng” does not think he is very “heroic”. Having got injured, he has adhered to give lesions everyday and has not preached his experience all around. However, his bold and righteous deed has still been known by the people around him and has moved everyone. Shanghai Pacican Academy that he works for has born all medical fee and his students have been very proud of having such a teacher. “If it happens again, I will also jump into the water to save people. Though it was cold at that time, I can feel great warmth at present.” said Joshua Freund.