The incident occurred around 5:15 PM at a pedestrian railway crossing in Cao Xa village, Viet Hoa ward, Hai Phong city. 28-year-old Nam said he was on his way home from work when he heard a train horn blaring continuously. He saw a young boy struggling to get his bicycle across the tracks.

He quickly abandoned his motorbike and rushed to pull the boy and his bicycle back. About two seconds later, the train sped past the spot where they had been standing.

"The boy seemed hesitant, his wheel was already on the track, so I rushed to pull him back," Nam recounted.

He said he managed to pull the boy off the tracks just as the train roared past, creating a strong suction. Fortunately, neither he nor the child were pulled in.

After calming the boy down, Nam helped the 6-year-old, who lives in Viet Hoa ward, safely cross the tracks and reminded him to be more careful.

The boy’s aunt, Pham Lan, learned of the incident from her nephew and went to the pedestrian crossing to request security camera footage to find her nephew's rescuer. On the evening of July 11, the family visited Nam to thank him. "My family is deeply moved and grateful for his brave act," Lan said.

Pham Van Nam. Photo: Provided by the subject

The video of the incident was shared on social media, and Nam received widespread praise for his quick thinking and bravery. When called a "hero," Nam said it was the right thing to do, despite being his first time saving someone.

"If Vietnamese people are afraid to save others, then who would dare to put themselves in harm's way?" he said.

Quynh Nguyen