Li Yutian, a 31-year-old policeman in Cangxi who graduated from Sichuan Branch of the Open University of China (OUC), unfortunately passed away while saving a girl who fell into the river.

On the afternoon of 8 October 2020, a girl of around 10 years old fell into the Jialing River. A policeman named Li Yutian, who had graduated from the Sichuan Branch last year, and his colleagues hurried to the river for rescue. Li jumped into the river to save the girl and tried hard to push her to the bank. However, due to the swift current, both of them were washed away. Later, the remains of the girl were fished out of water. At around 9am on 12 October, Li Yutian was also found by the rescue team near the Zhaogong Damn section of the Jialing River. Unfortunately, he had lost his life.

According to He Wenjin, head of Chengdong Police Station, Cangxi County, Li Yitian was ready and eager to learn even though he had only recently qualified as a policeman. He acted as a crime investigation policeman and had the ability to take charge of law enforcement cases. There are always more jobs than need to be done in a police station, and Li was always willing to do more and in the face of any difficulties. He even slept in the police station to facilitate his work. In June 2020, he became a probationary Party member.

According to Wang Chuan, director of the Teaching Affairs Office of Cangxi Radio and TV University (RTVU), and Yu Zhongming, Li Yutian’s class teacher, Li had majored in Chinese language and culture at Cangxi RTVU in his early years. After he obtained his junior college graduation certificate, he went on with further learning. He applied to study in the OUC’s legal science undergraduate programme and graduated in June last year. It is with great regret that he is lost forever because of his bravery.

By Sichuan Branch