71-year-old Chinese grandmother who learned to swim after retirement rescues drowning man

The Story in Brief

Liu Defang, a 71-year-old grandmother in Suixi county, Anhui province, saved a man in his 30s from drowning on July 13 after learning to swim just a few years following her retirement, the South China Morning Post reported. Hearing cries for help near a bridge, Liu removed her shoes, grabbed a lifebuoy thrown by a bystander, and swam to the struggling man. Despite the man resisting and trying to pull her under, Liu managed to bring him safely to shore, then quietly left without seeking recognition.

Police later released surveillance footage to identify the rescuer, leading Liu's brother to recognise her on social media. While her family scolded her for taking the risk, Liu expressed hope the rescued man would realise difficult moments pass. She learned to swim only in her late 60s after spending most of her life unable to swim, a decision that proved crucial years later during the emergency.