Life of Guangzhou - Two Jordanians Receive Award for Bravery and Courage

It was just past 11 o'clock in the evening of Oct. 18, when a heavy truck filled with hundreds of bags of cement crashed into a taxi at a crossroad in Xicha Lu, Guangzhou. More than 40 sacks of cement together with 5 or 6 workers fell off the truck and hit the ground with a loud thump. The cement buried alive 6 people including the passengers inside the taxi.

More than 40 sacks of cement disperse on the spot. (Guangzhou Daily)

Upon seeing this, three young men, two of whom were foreigners, rushed without hesitating to help dig out the victims. After they successfully freed the occupants and sent them to hospital, they left as fast as they arrived, anonymous saviors who might have been forgotten if not for Miss Xu. She tracked these men down to thank them and make the names of these heroes known to all: Ahmad and Z-zakavea from Jordan, and Jin Mangui from Xinjiang.

Jin Mangui and Ahmad read the report. (Guangzhou Daily)

Ahmad is 24 years-old and came to China 6 months ago. With a shy smile on his face, today he works for a trading company in Guangzhou and deals in clothing. He had already been put in front of similar situations four times before, and believes it to be most natural for a passerby to lend a hand to someone in need. When told he would be presented with a certificate and a reward for his exemplary behavior, the humble man attempted to refuse with his awkward Chinese: no no no. He told journalists that "there is no need to pay for what is right for every one to do. I just did what I ought to do. Anyone would do the same if they witnessed such an accident."

Z-zakavea, also from Jordan, is only 18 years old. He's very shy and seldom spoke a word during the interview. But when the spokesman for Ahmad's company mentioned that "China is wonderful, Guangzhou is terrific and Cantonese people are hospitable," he smiled and nodded to show his assent.

Jin Mangui came to Guangzhou three years ago from Yili, Xinjiang. He now works as an interpreter in the same company as the two Jordanians. They were all three returning from a game of basketball when they heard a big bang. "We jumped up from our seats without saying a word and the next moment, we found ourselves digging the cement trying to pull out the people beneath. We then checked to see if any of the passengers in the truck or the taxi were hurt." Mr. Jin said it was the responsibility of every citizen to help people in trouble.

Ahmad shakes hands with one of the wounded in the hospital
(Guangzhou Daily)

Ahmad and Jin Mangui went to visit the wounded at the Guangzhou Military Hospital. Relatives of the wounded present in the hospital greeted the men with great emotion and many thanks were expressed. The father of a wounded woman girl said emotionally: "Without Ahmad and Mr. Jin, my daughter might never have reached the hospital in time. One minute later and I might have lost her forever."

In the afternoon of Oct. 23rd, the Guangzhou Foundation for Justice and Courage awarded the three men with a certificate and a reward of 3000 RMB. As of today, Ahmad and Z-zakavea are the first foreigners to receive such distinction.

(By Xu man, David Ketyon)