In recent days, the small house of Le Duc Trung (17 years old, residing in Cua Tung commune, a 12th grade student at Cua Tung High School) has been filled with laughter and congratulations from neighbors, teachers, and friends. The story of Trung bravely overcoming fierce waves at Da Nhay beach (Bac Trach commune) to save a baby girl swept away from the shore 80m to 100m makes many people admire him. Behind the courage of the young man, there are touching details about motherhood and the journey of preparing skills from an early age.
Breathtaking moments and mother's belief
Recalling the moment of life and death at noon on June 21, Ms. Ta Thi Le Na (born in 1980, Trung's mother) was still "running". At that time, her family was having a meal at a restaurant about 100m from the beach when they heard screams. Looking out at the sea, seeing two children struggling, Trung was the first to react, running quickly to the edge of the water.
Seeing her son intending to rush into the deep water, Mrs. Na shouted loudly, telling her son to bring a life jacket. But the sea waves were too loud, she ran away, so Trung did not have time to hear. Then in a moment, she put on her clothes and rushed straight into the fast-flowing water.
Standing on the beach, witnessing her son diving in the raging waves, Mrs. Na was stunned, her legs bent down and trembling. Next to her was the mother of two children crying in despair.
At that time, I was panicked and extremely worried, but seeing my son reach out at sea, I had a strong belief. I believed my son would approach the baby and both would return to shore safely" - Ms. Na recalled.
Skills trained from 10,000 VND per afternoon
Trung's action of rushing to the sea to save a drowning person was not a momentary recklessness, but came from swimming skills invested by his family from a young age.
Ms. Na is currently a librarian at a school in Ben Hai commune, knowing the dangers of the central riverine region, so from when Trung was young, she let her son go to swimming lessons in a systematic way.
The passion for swimming is ingrained in his blood, every free afternoon, Trung asks his mother for 10,000 VND to go to the swimming pool to practice. Not only swimming well, Trung is also taught drowning rescue skills by teachers. This silent preparation for many years has helped the male student maintain his composure when facing big waves, promptly encouraging the little girl to swim against the whirlpool to the shore.
Mr. Ngo Quyet Chien - Principal of Cua Tung High School - proudly shared that Trung is a good, polite student with good academic achievements, who once won a high prize in the science and technology competition. Cua Tung Commune People's Committee is urgently coordinating with the school to complete the dossier, promptly commend and reward the brave action of the 12th grade male student.
Ms. Le Thi Huong - Director of the Department of Education and Training of Quang Tri province - said that the unit has praised Le Duc Trung for his courageous act of rescuing people in distress.
