Elderly woman run over by van rescued by Good Samaritans

Around two dozen people in south China’s Guangzhou rescued an elderly woman trapped under the wheels of a passenger van.

The lady, a Ms. Huang who is in her 80s, was crossing a street near the Licheng No.2 Primary School when she was run over by the white vehicle, according to witnesses.

Smartphone video recorded by a witness at 9:00 local time Thursday (May 19) shows more than 20 people rushing to her aid and freeing the badly injured lady in a few minutes.

A security guard at the nearby primary school was among the first to respond to the accident.

“I could not think of any other way [by myself], so I called on those passers-by to help lift up that van. After all, unity is strength,” said the Good Samaritan, who gave his name as Tu Runhong.

Soon, traffic police, firefighters, cab drivers, and construction workers joined the rescue, with some of them pushing the vehicle to the other side while the rest trying to release the victim. The woman was bleeding in her forehead when she was carried out.

“We did not know each other, but when someone was in trouble, everyone lent their hands. It is great,” said a resident.

Less than ten minutes after the accident, an ambulance arrived to take the victim to hospital.

Doctors who examined Ms. Huang said she suffered bone fractures in her left hand and deep cuts in the head. The old lady was conscious, but was not able to open the eyes due to bruises and blood clots.

“When I was crossing the road, there were no cars. That van was driving too fast,” said the injured woman.

Police said they are investigating into the case. It would take about 30 days to determine the liability of the accident.