China delivery rider collapses after entering burning flat 3 times to extinguish flames

A courier in eastern China has been celebrated as a hero after bravely charging into a burning flat three times to extinguish the flames before collapsing from smoke inhalation.An Erpei, 21, from Hangzhou, had just returned to his rented flat after a late shift on June 25, when he heard a fire alarm while washing dishes.As he fled the building with his girlfriend and family, An noticed the blaze coming from an unoccupied flat on the third floor.Security guards and property staff were already on the scene, but thick smoke filled the corridor, obstructing their efforts to combat the rapidly spreading fire.Building staff arrived quickly, but dense smoke choked the corridor and hindered their efforts to fight the fast-spreading fire before An returned, as pictured above. Photo: HandoutDespite his girlfriend’s pleas to wait for the firefighters, An seized a dry powder extinguisher and hurried into the burning home in his slippers.Drawing on previous firefighting experience, he quickly identified the source of the blaze as a refrigerator. After emptying one extinguisher, he dashed outside to grab another.As the flames remained uncontained, he switched to a high-pressure water hosepipe and charged in for a third time, ultimately extinguishing the fire.His heroic firefighting efforts reportedly spanned about 10 minutes. Fortunately, no one in the building was injured, but An collapsed from smoke inhalation just as firefighters arrived.An regained consciousness in hospital hours later, and while resting during treatment, he reflected that fear had never crossed his mind during the rescue. Photo: HandoutHe regained consciousness in hospital several hours later and reflected that fear had never crossed his mind during the rescue.“But when I saw my girlfriend crying, I finally felt scared,” he told local media.An’s courier company commended his bravery, covered his medical bills, and awarded him 2,000 yuan (US$290).“I will give the money to my girlfriend. Consider it a form of compensation for scaring her,” he said.Further ReadingAccording to Hangzhou-daily" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158479" data-entity-type="organization">Hangzhou Daily, An previously worked as a security guard in Beijing, where he once assisted in responding to a large fire.An expressed a long-standing desire to give back to Hangzhou, a city that had welcomed him warmly upon his arrival. Photo: HandoutSince joining a Hangzhou courier company last October, he has also received professional fire safety training.An expressed a long-standing desire to give back to Hangzhou, a city that had been kind to him upon his arrival.In 2022, while working as a food delivery rider in the city, An lost a takeaway order worth over 100 yuan (US$15). Surveillance footage later revealed that a homeless man had taken the meal.A police officer paid the compensation An owed the customer from his own pocket and encouraged him to persevere in his work.A charred doorway marks the entrance to the flat after An successfully extinguished the blaze. Photo: HandoutAn has never forgotten the officer’s kindness, which solidified his determination to remain in Hangzhou.His story has resonated with many users on mainland social media.“This young man is a hero. I hope he remembers to protect himself while helping others,” one online observer remarked.Another person commented: “The 2,000 yuan reward seems too small. Good people deserve better.”