China News Agency, Dazhou, January 22, title: "Mortal Hero" Gan Yu's wish for the Year of the Rabbit: "Spend more time with family"
China News Agency reporter He Shaoqing Zhang Lang
Clean up the firecracker skins left over from New Year’s Eve, add some firewood to the stove to symbolize good fortune, and cut a large plate of sausage and bacon... On the 22nd, the first day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Rabbit, Gan Yu lived in an old house in Shihe Town, Dazhu County, Dazhou, Sichuan. Wearing an apron, I was sweating profusely early in the morning.
This young man once sacrificed his life to save others, and created a 17-day miracle of life in the deep mountains and old forests with constant aftershocks. Now he has a rosy complexion, but he occasionally stumbles when he goes upstairs.
On January 21, in Dazhou, Sichuan, Gan Yu (right) had a reunion dinner with his family.
Photo by Ganzhu issued by China News Agency
When an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 occurred in Luding on September 5, 2022, Gan Yu and Luo Yong, employees of the Luding Bay East Hydropower Station, rescued people together.
The two prevented the river from overflowing the dam and destroying the downstream villages, but missed the best time for evacuation.
Gan Yu, who was exhausted, lost contact for 17 days during the escape, but the search and rescue operations for Gan Yu did not stop for a moment.
In the early morning of September 21, when Gan Yu, who had multiple fractures throughout his body, was found by local villagers in Wanggangping Township, Shimian County, he was so emaciated that he lost 110 kilograms.
Afterwards, Gan Yu returned to his hometown to recuperate.
Under the careful care of his grandmother and father for several months, Gan Yu's sunken cheeks bulged again, and his weight returned to the 150 catties before the earthquake.
"The appetite is a bit more than before, but I just feel like I can't get enough to eat." Gan Yu told reporters that when he first returned to Dazhu's hometown, he needed to use a wheelchair and crutches, and was afraid to look at the photos he took on the day he was rescued.
But now he can face the earthquake with a normal heart, "even seeing that photo makes him feel a little funny."
In early January, in Dazhou, Sichuan, Gan Yu was in the vegetable field of his hometown in the countryside.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Lang
Although Gan Yu's life gradually returned to calm, Grandma Gan Yu still couldn't help wiping away tears when she was photographed before the Spring Festival and asked "how is Yu'er's recovery" by relatives and friends.
"My grandma and I have been together since we were young, so I don't want to see her cry. Anyway, we are already here, so we should think more about happy things in the future." Seeing grandma's sadness, Gan Yu, 28, couldn't help but straighten his back, as if he wanted to tell Grandma, her little grandson has grown into a real man.
During the recuperation period at home, Gan Yu spent several hours reading every day, and also took the first-level construction engineer exam.
The reporter saw in Gan Yu's bedroom that there was a single bed on each side of the simple desk in the bedroom, one of which was moved by his father after he was discharged from the hospital in order to take care of Gan Yu.
Although the desk is not big, it is full of various books related to architecture and engineering.
In Gan Yu's view, studying a lot, striving to improve himself, getting married and having children, and traveling to distant places are all his plans for the future.
After experiencing life and death, he wants to do his best to accomplish what he wants to do so that he will live without regrets.
In 2022, Gan Yu conducted 12 live broadcasts on online social platforms, and the most live broadcast was watched by more than 100,000 netizens online.
During the live broadcast, netizens often called Gan Yu a "hero".
Faced with this address, Gan Yu smiled and shook his hand.
He said that he is the most ordinary "engineer" and never thought of the title of "hero". He just did his duty and did what he should do.
If I could go back in time, I would still make the same choice.
In early January, Gan Yu was with his grandmother in Dazhou, Sichuan.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Lang
Talking about the past 2022, Gan Yu summed it up with the word "lucky".
"Because I survived and met so many good people, I am really lucky." During the Spring Festival in 2023, Gan Yu plans to share his recovery and life insights with netizens through a live broadcast.
"At that time, apart from wanting to survive, my biggest regret was that I had too little time with my family." Gan Yu said that relatives and friends usually work outside and rarely get together.
Yesterday's New Year's Eve was almost the busiest day in his house. Everyone ate Sichuan farm food and looked for scenes about themselves in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala together.
These precious gatherings are in line with his wish in the Year of the Rabbit - "spend more time with family".
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