Zhejiang doctor donates prize money to charity

A Zhejiang man has won praise online for giving away all the prize money he received for saving a person from drowning in order to support families of individuals who were injured or became ill as a result of committing courageous acts.

Sun Jie, a researcher at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and doctoral supervisor at Zhejiang University, donated his entire prize money of 90,000 yuan (around $12,537) to the Hangzhou Foundation for Righteousness and Courage on Friday, China News Service reported.

When asked why he had decided to make the donation, Sun said he had learned of many good Samaritans who suffered injuries or even lost their lives while helping others, leaving their families in financial stress.

"I hope this donation can offer some help to these heroes, and encourage more people to step forward at critical moments," Sun added.

Sun said his parents were completely supportive of his decision to donate the money. "We have enough to live on, so we should donate the money to those who need it more," his father told him.

On the night of May 23, Sun witnessed a man falling into the Qiantang River. Despite high tides, he immediately jumped into the water and held on to the drowning man for over 20 minutes until water police arrived. Finally, the man was successfully rescued.

Sun said that, although the man was much heavier than him and almost unconscious, he kept telling him to hold on.

In recognition of his courageous life-saving act, Sun was honored with the title of "Model of Righteousness and Courage in Hangzhou" and awarded a second-class merit by the Hangzhou municipal government.