Nguyen Thi Trang and her husband, Phung Xuan Hung, were travelling by motorbike from their home in Xuan Mai Commune to Dai Thanh Commune to cater an event when they witnessed the incident.
The elderly man lost control of his motorbike, hit a roadside barrier and plunged into the Nhue River in Thuong Phuc Commune. The road was deserted at the time, and the victim struggled in the cold water.
Hung (in black shirt) and another man bringing the victim to shore (Photo: Screenshot).
Hung initially prepared to jump in to help, but Trang stopped him, concerned about his swimming ability. When another man arrived on a motorbike, she urged her husband to wait so they could work together.
“I quickly stopped him because he is not a strong swimmer. When I saw another man approaching, I told my husband to wait so they could rescue the victim together,” Trang told Dantri.
The rescue took several minutes, with Trang watching anxiously from the riverbank. She said it was the first time she had witnessed someone in danger in the water and feared both rescuers might drown.
The river was shallow, allowing the men to bring the victim to shore safely. He was shivering and pale from the cold but remained conscious and was able to provide his family’s phone number.
According to Trang, the elderly man was later hospitalised and underwent brain surgery for a head injury. He remains in a coma.
Nguyen Thi Trang and Phung Xuan Hung (Photo: Provided by interviewee).
A video of Hung and another man jumping into the cold river to save the victim spread widely on social media, drawing praise for their bravery. Many described the rescue as a commendable act that should be widely promoted.