Food delivery man, 20, saves dad-son duo in China river, but gets swept away & dies

A 20-year-old food delivery rider in Guizhou, China, died after jumping into a river to save a father and son pair who had fallen in, only to be swept away by an undercurrent moments later due to exhaustion.

What happened

Citing local reports, 8world reported that the Guizhou Foundation for Justice and Courage issued a statement on Jun. 14 stating that the incident took place on the afternoon of May 27 along a stretch of river in Tongxing Village, Guizhou province.

A boy reportedly fell into the river while playing near the riverbank.

His father jumped in to rescue him, but was also caught in the current, leaving both of them in danger.

Witnessing what had happened, food delivery rider Jin Xiaowu (transliteration) and three others dove in and helped to bring the father and son to safety.

However, Jin was swept away by the current during the rescue effort, and his body was later recovered following a search operation lasting several hours.

"The closer I get to home, the further away you seem to drift from me."

Jin's death has left his family, friends and fellow villagers devastated.

According to 8world, his sister, Jin Yuyan, wrote in a social media post: "The closer I get to home, the further away you seem to drift from me."

Her post drew an outpouring of condolences online, as the message reflected her grief and the sense of loss following her brother's death.

Relatives revealed that Jin had started working at a young age to help support his family after financial difficulties and his father's long-term illness left them struggling.

As a delivery rider, he often worked late into the night to make ends meet.

Notes on his phone listed two goals for 2026: to save 20,000 yuan (S$3,800) and buy his father a minivan, 8world reported.

He had also recently spent his savings on a new mobile phone for his mother.

Amid online debate over whether his actions had been "worth it", his sister said she believed he would have felt they were, adding that she would stand by his choice.

Jin's father also described him as someone who had always been willing to help others in danger, even from a young age.

Local authorities have applied for bravery honours for Jin and the other rescuers, and said they would arrange follow-up commendations and support measures for their families.

On the day of Jin's burial, large numbers of villagers turned up to pay their respects and honour his memory.