Man Saves 412 from Suicide in Yangtze River
Source: OT-Team(S,J), Weibo, 《现代快报》, China News
During the past 13 years, Chen Si has been patrolling on this bridge as a volunteer, and saved over 400 people until 2021.
Chen Si is now 53 years old.
On September 19, 2003, he rescued a woman who was about to commit suicide on the Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing. When seeing more and more news about people who committed suicide by jumping off the bridge, Chen Si decided to serve as a patrolman of the bridge, hoping to save more precious lives.
Every weekend for the past 18 years, Chen Si woke up before 6am, put on his red helmet and rode the old electric motorcycle to the bridge for patrolling. Once he found anyone with suicidal tendencies, he would immediately approach him/her.
To save people, Chen Si often faced the same danger to his life.
Sometimes, the people being rescued resisted desperately, and he got hurt and suffered the risk of falling down to the river. But he never hesitated when deciding to save a life.
In order to avoid those who were rescued from suicide again, starting in 2006, Chen Si rented a house at his own expense of 300,000 yuan (his monthly income is only around 3,000 yuan), and established a "Temporary Settlement station (Soul Inn)" for people whom need help.
The temporary settlement station (Soul Inn)
Chen Si was doing the volunteer rescue work alone in the first three years. More volunteers gradually joined since 2006. Some of them joined the volunteer team because they had been rescued and helped by Chen Si.
Chen Si and volunteers, who help to protect the suicidal people and drive them home
"I have no plan for 'retirement'. I am going to rescue more people as long as i am strong enough." Chen Si said.
In 2015, the story of Chen Si was made into the documentary “Angel of Nanjing” by director Jordan Horowitz.