Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online at noon on August 10, Lieutenant Colonel Vu Thanh Giang, deputy head of the Traffic Police Department of Quang Ngai Province Police, said that after rescuing a mother and her three children from drowning, he was exhausted, his limbs were limp, and he could not walk.

Gave up his life buoy to save a drowning mother and her three children

Lieutenant Colonel Giang said that at around 5:30 a.m. on August 10, he and a friend were swimming from the sea to shore when a couple wearing life jackets asked for help to push them to shore because the current was pulling them too far out. At this time, Mr. Giang and his friend helped push the two people in.

When they were about 60 meters from shore, a woman shouted: "Save me, save my child and me." Lieutenant Colonel Giang said his friend continued to help the couple to shore, while he swam toward the woman.

"I approached and saw that the two children were very weak, clinging to and pushing their mother's head into the water. Luckily, I always carry two lifebuoys when I go swimming, so I took them off and gave them to the two children, then I swam and pulled the woman's head out of the water," said Lieutenant Colonel Giang.

Although he gave up his life buoy to the two children, both of them panicked and tried to cling to their mother and Lieutenant Giang. Struggling with the waves, Mr. Giang was exhausted and tried to shout loudly, calling for help from people nearby.

At that moment, Mr. Tran Van Man, Director of the Quang Ngai Department of Construction, heard and rushed out to sea, throwing buoys towards the mother and her three children. Thanks to these buoys, the woman was less tired.

"If it weren't for Mr. Man's lifebuoy, I would have collapsed. I was so tired," said Mr. Giang.

Rip currents at My Khe beach are very strong, be careful

Four rescue team members at My Khe beach, Tinh Khe commune, Quang Ngai city later discovered the incident and rushed to the rescue, pulling the mother and her children to shore. When everything was okay, Lieutenant Colonel Giang grabbed a buoy and lay down to rest on the sea surface.

Mr. Phan Cao Lam, captain of the Urban Order Management Team of Quang Ngai City, said that the three lucky people to be rescued were Ms. TTT (36 years old, Tinh An Tay commune, Quang Ngai City) and her two children, aged 9 and 5.

After the incident, many people said that the rip current at My Khe beach on the morning of August 10 was very strong, even those who knew how to swim had difficulty swimming to shore.

Lieutenant Colonel Giang said that although he is a good swimmer, he always carries two lifebuoys when he goes swimming in the sea so that when he gets tired, he can rest and wait for rescue. Fortunately, those two lifebuoys saved the mother and her three children.

"After resting for a while, I was so annoyed that I yelled at Ms. T. for going swimming with a small child without bringing a lifebuoy, her life was like a joke. I feel sorry for her, but through this incident, I hope everyone who swims in the sea will bring a lifebuoy to ensure their own safety and to rescue others if they are discovered.

Like this morning, without the two lifebuoys, I could not have kept my mother and children alive until everyone came to rescue. I also thank the rescue team for arriving so promptly," said Lieutenant Colonel Giang.

Authorities recommend that people and tourists should observe and choose crowded swimming spots when swimming, and swim during times when there are lifeguards on duty (morning from 4am to 8am, afternoon from 3pm to 6pm), Mr. Lam added.

Talking about his act of giving up his life buoy to save people, Lieutenant Colonel Giang shared: "At that time, I didn't think anything, I just gave up and saved them. At that time, I wasn't afraid, only when I was exhausted. But I'm happy because Ms. T. and the two children are safe."