Rescue team leader: saving lives is sacred mission

There were miracles during every rescue

Pointing at a pile of instant noodles and bottled water in a corner of the tent, Chen said, “We cannot have meals regularly. Sometimes, we have to just eat some bread and sausages and drink some water down the pit and continue the rescue. We often work over 10 hours without a break. It is common that we do not have time to wash our faces, only eat instant noodles, and we cannot taste even fresh vegetables for several days." We looked at Chen's shirt, the sleeves and collar were all black.

Chen has been a rescue worker for 32 years and worked on between 700 to 800 accident scenes, including some major disasters. "My team has saved over 500 people in total but also carried out over 1,000 bodies."

Chen was born in the Linshi County of Shanxi Province. He once was a miner in the Gaoyang coal mine for two years. When the rescue team was being established, the 178 cm and extremely strong Chen caught the eyes of the captain of rescue team, and captain went to the mine many times trying to recruit Chen. After several twists and turns, the 22-year-old Chen finally became a member of the rescue team. "The rescue gear we used at that time was much poorer than what we use now. The uniforms we wore were white in color, and now they are orange. The respirators were not sealed well, and when you moved your head, the respirator would pop loose and become useless. Now, our respirators are quite tight, and we can talk to each other while wearing them." After Chen became the captain, the standards he adopted to select team members include not only good physical condition but also good psychological qualities and excellent rescue skills.

Chen participated in the rescue effort when the earthquake hit Wenchuan city on May 12, 2008. He said that the rescue in the mineshaft was more dangerous than the earthquake. "Above the ground, we can see clearly about the situation and then take measures to rescue people. But there are so many uncertain factors when you are in the shaft underground." Nearly every month, Chen will go to some place to rescue people and every accident gives Chen both the feelings of sorrow and joy. "There is a miracle involved with nearly every rescue effort."

"In Wangjialing Coal Mine, we never thought that there would be surviving miners on the first hillside. When we went to there by raft, we saw the slightly shaking light." Chen said, "The sketched map that we had showed that the hillside had been covered by water so any person that was on the slope would probably not be alive." Chen said that the reason the hillside was not submerged was that when the huge water flow surged to the hillside, it produced strong airflow and the counterforce of the airflow prevented the water from fully covering the hillside. "So the nine miners survived."

They have been making full use of every minute

Liu Rucheng is Chen's right hand. 　

On the morning of April 6, the reporters interviewed Liu Rucheng, who was about to take a nap in the makeshift tent. He is 39 years old this year and is 1.78 meters tall and weighs 85 kilograms. He is very strong, which is a necessary physical attribute for a rescue worker. 　　

At around 6pm on March 28, the rescue team came to the spot. "Once the water level lowered to a certain level, we are able to take the raft to rescue them." At this time, the rescuers made use of a relay system, with some taking the raft to rescue people while the other carried the surviving workers by hand and sending them to the stretcher in the alley of the lift area. Liu was the one in charge of carrying the miners. 　　

"We will do physical exercise every day, such as, running, lifting weights and enhancing our arm strength." In the few days, Liu had saved many miners. He clearly remembered the first person he carried out of the pit. "He looked very thin and I carried him gently and told him not to be afraid, for his family was waiting for him outside," said Liu. These strong rescuers also played the role of comforting the rescued workers.