(Photo: Xinhua)

A Good Samaritan has received widespread praise for his life-saving efforts in rescuing a young boy within a matter seconds after he fell into a muddy pond in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Xihua reported.

Around noon on August 4, a boy fell into a muddy pond in Mulan Tianchi Scenic Area in Wuhan. A man with a red shirt jumped in and rescued him. The episode took less than half a minute.

The 36-year-old man was later identified as Xu Liang from Taizhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. He is an ex-firefighter and an employee with the social security administration of Jiangyan District, Taizhou. Like many visitors to the park, he had come with his brother-in-law to catch fish, and for the pools and waterfalls.

(Photo: Xinhua)

"I was only two or three meters from the kid," Xu said, when he saw a little boy suddenly “plop” in the water. With screams ringing in his ears, he jumped in for the rescue.

Xu scooped the little boy and held on to him. At that moment, the boy’s father came running toward them. He helped Xu pull the boy to safety. Xu’s feet were stuck in the mud at some point. Xu’s brother-in-law and his wife helped him out of the water. 

"From discovery to rescue, it took 20 seconds,” he later recounted. The boy took a few mouthfuls and Xu’s phone was ruined, but “nothing’s more important than saving a life,” Xu was quick to add.

Seeing his boy was safe, the father was happy and thankful. "Thank you for saving my child,” he said. “You are really a hero!" 

(Photo: Xinhua)