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Swede hailed as hero after rescue in China

Published: 10 Dec 12 07:39 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/44954/20121210/

A 53-year-old Swedish man made headlines as a hero in China after he jumped into a river to save a drowning woman’s life.

After he witnessed a woman drowning in the Jin River in the city of Chengdu, Harald Göbel took matters into his own hands and jumped in himself.

“When I came out of the river there was thunderous applause and cheering,” Göbel told the Expressen newspaper.

Göbel, a 53-year-old resident of Gothenburg in western Sweden, was on a business trip to the central Chinese city when the incident occurred late last week.

“The fireman threw a life-buoy in the water, but it really didn’t help. She was taken by the current under a bridge and through a tunnel,” he told the paper.

As the woman was dragged into the tunnel, a fireman jumped in after her, but Göbel analyzed the situation differently as crowds gathered.

“I ran to the other side of the tunnel, left my jacket with my friend, and jumped in.”

The Swede then swam ten metres to the woman, pulling her to land to the cheers of the crowd. The woman was promptly taken to hospital where she is currently recuperating.

“People were screaming ‘hero’ when I came out of the water,” Göbel told Expressen.

But with screaming crowds and Chinese media lining up to interview him, the Swede remains humble and carried on life as usual.

“When I saw that the woman was being taken care of by the ambulance staff, I went back to the hotel with my friend, had a shower, and then relaxed in the hotel bar.”

TT/The Local/og
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09:42 December 10, 2012 by texaslass
Good on you, Harald! Had it not been for his quick-thinking and selfless acts, a tragedy may have occurred. Yay! Good news.
11:29 December 10, 2012 by Rishonim
Kol Hakavod Harald.
12:58 December 10, 2012 by Migga
Here`s video of the rescue and the brave Swede in action;

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3cd_1354971493

I wonder what Milad Mohammadi would say and if he thinks this swedish mans behaviour should also go to hell?
14:35 December 10, 2012 by RobinHood
Mr Göbel has proved that all Swedes are heroic supermen/women prepared to risk life and limb. Traditional Swedish values must be dragged out of Hell at once.
17:46 December 10, 2012 by chengdoo
Two videos and full English article

http://gochengdoo.com/en/blog/item/2846/swedish_man_rescues_drowning_chengdu_woman_dubbed_foreign_lei_feng
20:05 December 10, 2012 by rise
"I wonder what Milad Mohammadi would say and if he thinks this swedish mans behaviour should also go to hell?"

What he thinks is as important as the vakuum in the space.

P.S. To hell with me and the rest of my fellow Swedes! ;D
03:41 December 12, 2012 by fareasttiger
A selfless act indeed mr. Göbel. May you have a long life and a good sense to live it.
05:35 December 12, 2012 by ericrufinosiah
God Bless you as always Mr Harald Gobel,for saving a woman's life in Chengdu,

China,it was a great humanitarian act which was watched by millions on both in

China and elsewhere.
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