When the first videos of five students drowning in the Lo river spread on social media on the afternoon of 18/5, Truong Huu Khoa sat in front of his phone screen at his home in Hai Luu commune. "I watched, and tears streamed down my face out of immense sorrow", he recounted.

A few minutes later, Khoa drove his motorbike over 20 km to the scene at the riverbank alluvial flat in Yen Kieu village, Song Lo commune. The man, who had nearly 30 years of experience working on the river, said he went because he felt he had to see if he could help.

Upon his arrival, authorities were using boats and iron hooks to sweep the riverbed. On the bank, the cries of parents calling their children echoed continuously among the dense crowd watching the rescue efforts.

After introducing himself as an experienced swimmer and diver and requesting permission from the police to assist, he was approved. The 53-year-old man took off his shirt and plunged into the cold river.

Truong Huu Khoa after bringing the children ashore. *Photo: Provided by subject*

He recounted that before diving, he silently prayed and repeatedly called out to the victims in his mind: "Children, if fate allows, please let me know where you are, and I will bring you home to your families."

Observing the river surface before diving, Khoa noticed a whirlpool area several dozen meters from where the students had left their clothes. With many years of experience fishing on the river, he assessed that below could be a deep hole where the victims had been swept.

As predicted, under about 4 meters of deep water, he encountered a haunting sight: two students clinging to each other at the riverbed. "I intended to separate them to bring them up one by one, but they were holding on so tightly that I had to pull both up at the same time", he said.

The deep, swift current made pulling the two victims to the surface difficult. After bringing the children to shore and handing them over to authorities, he was nearly exhausted but continued to dive into the river to search for the remaining victims.

About half an hour later, he found another student about 20 meters from the previous location. This was the last victim found in the riverbed.

After many hours of diving in deep water, Khoa emerged exhausted. Major General Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of Phu Tho Provincial Police, personally encouraged him and presented him with an envelope in gratitude for his rescue efforts.

That evening, upon opening the envelope, his family was surprised to find 20 million dong inside. After discussion, he and his wife decided to use the entire amount to support the victims' families. On the morning of 19/5, he and his wife visited all five families who lost children, giving each family 4 million dong to help with funeral arrangements. "Money is precious, but the pain of losing a child for these families is far greater", he shared.

For about 10 years, Khoa has not been involved in fishing but has helped his children in the construction materials business. He frequently participates in charity activities, supporting flood-affected residents and disadvantaged communities in many northern mountainous and central provinces.

The scene of the drowning incident that killed five students. *Photo: Song Lo Commune People's Committee*

Hoang Manh Hong, Chief of Office for the People's Council and People's Committee of Song Lo commune, stated that Khoa helped find three victims. One victim was found by local residents immediately after the incident, and the remaining victim was discovered by authorities.

The search was difficult due to the wide riverbed, deep water, and complex currents. Rescue teams had to divide into multiple groups to search the accident area and nearby river sections.

Currently, Song Lo commune has established five working groups to assist families with organizing funerals and burials for the victims. A representative of the Commune People's Committee stated that in the coming days, the locality will hold a meeting to assess the entire incident.

Phu Tho Provincial Police advised parents to strengthen supervision of their children, preventing them from swimming unsupervised in rivers, streams, ponds, or lakes; and to equip them with drowning prevention skills to reduce similar accidents.

Around 16:00 on 18/5, a group of nine male students, aged 13-14, went to the Lo river alluvial flat in Yen Kieu village, Song Lo commune, to swim. One student suddenly drowned, and four others who noticed rushed to help but were also swept away, resulting in the deaths of all five students.

Gia Chinh