On 24/7, Le Ba Minh Hai, chairman of Phu Bai ward, presented Phi with a certificate of merit, recognizing his courage and quick thinking in rescuing those in distress at the lake.

Around 2 PM on 22/7, while working at a gravesite within the cemetery grounds, Phi heard cries for help from children on the shore. He saw Nguyen Dau, 31, and two young children struggling in the lake. Phi immediately jumped into the water and brought Tran Thi Tra My safely to shore. He then dove back in to search for 5-year-old Tran Cao Minh Thuc, but the child was unresponsive when he brought him to the surface. Phi continued to search for Dau but couldn't find him. Authorities recovered Dau's body later that afternoon, around 5 PM, and returned it to his family.

Phi receives a certificate of merit from Phu Bai ward. Photo: Thanh Doan

Phi receives a certificate of merit from Phu Bai ward. Photo: Thanh Doan

According to local authorities, Thuc and My, along with Phan Nhat Minh, Phan Nhat Huy (both 15), and Tran Cao Minh Tri (10), were playing by the lake in the cemetery when Thuc fell in. My jumped in to save him, but both ended up in trouble. Dau, who was fishing nearby, rushed to help but also drowned.

Phu Bai ward authorities praised the actions of both Phi and Dau as exemplary. The ward plans to collaborate with local schools to promote water safety and drowning prevention education for children.

The former Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs reported that Vietnam averages around 2,000 child drowning deaths annually, the highest rate in Southeast Asia. The primary causes are lack of swimming skills, inadequate first aid knowledge, and insufficient adult supervision. While numerous drowning prevention programs have been implemented, effectiveness at the local level, especially in rural and mountainous areas, remains limited.

Vo Thanh