Society

The story of the "otters" of Lim village.

Khanh Ly • February 12, 2025 15:23

In Lim village, Chau Phong commune, Quy Chau district, when inquiring about Mr. Ha Van Thanh, officials and villagers alike expressed their affection and admiration for the man who has repeatedly saved people from "death" during floods and actively participated in rescue and relief efforts in the locality. Due to his innate swimming and diving skills, ability to hold his breath for long periods, and courageous spirit, Mr. Thanh has been nicknamed "the otter" of Lim village by the locals.

In Lim village, Chau Phong commune, Quy Chau district, upon inquiry, officials and villagers alike expressed their affection and admiration for Mr. Ha Van Thanh (born in 1975) - the "otter" of the village, who has repeatedly saved people from "death" during floods and actively participated in rescue and relief efforts in the locality.

Mr. Thanh has a simple, friendly appearance, a tall, sturdy build, and a dark complexion. Upon meeting and chatting with him, he recounted being born and raised in Lim village (now with 208 households, 1,200 inhabitants, 100% of whom are Thai ethnic people), where the Lim stream flows through with clear, gentle water in the dry season and fierce water in the rainy season.

As a child, Mr. Thanh used to swim in the stream with his friends, go fishing for shrimp and fish with his parents, and cast nets in the stream. Combined with his innate talent, he developed excellent swimming skills, the ability to hold his breath for a long time, and the courage to dive deep. Because of his natural swimming and diving skills, and his bravery, Mr. Thanh was nicknamed "the otter" of Lim village by the locals. Thanks to these abilities, "the otter" of Lim village has repeatedly assisted and rescued people in need while crossing flooded bridges during heavy rains.

The Lim village spillway bridge, located on Provincial Road 544, was built for two purposes: to meet the need for rapid water drainage during the rainy season and to facilitate transportation for local residents. However, during heavy rains, when water from upstream flows in, it becomes a dangerous trap for people and vehicles passing through.

According to the head of Lim village, Lu Van Tuong, the bridge is too low and sags into the ravine, so whenever there is heavy rain, it floods completely within about two hours. Even with quick rain, it takes about 1-1.5 hours for the water to recede, and during prolonged storms, the flooding can be more than 5 meters deep and last for a week. Each time this happens, people from Lim, Lau, and Tam villages (Chau Phong commune) and some villages in Chau Hoan commune have to detour through Dien Lam commune to get to Tan Lac town (Quy Chau). Ten households in Lim village, located between the two overflow bridges, are often isolated.

During the rainy season, when the water level rises, the management board of Lim village often puts up warning poles, but some villagers, mainly from other villages, still carelessly cross. Many people in the village know how to swim, but few are as skilled, able to hold their breath for long periods, and as brave and decisive as Mr. Thanh. When an incident occurs, others are afraid to swim out, but Mr. Thanh is always ready to rescue people in dangerous situations. He is also one of the six active members of the local security and rescue team of Lim village. His spirit of selfless service has spread kindness throughout the community.

However, when asked about the times he rescued people in distress, Mr. Ha Van Thanh only recounted them briefly and humbly.

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"When I see someone in danger, I instinctively help and support them without thinking too much, not even asking their name or age..."

As he spoke, he led the visitors along a shortcut to the overflow bridge area in Lim village, pointing into the distance and sharing that normally the stream flows gently and peacefully, but during the rainy season, the water rushes up very quickly, sometimes giving us no time to react.

Before the concrete bridge was built, during the dry season people mainly waded across, and during rainy and windy weather they cut bamboo to make rafts. “The bridge was only built around 2000, I remember because construction started on the same day as my younger brother’s wedding. Since the bridge was built, people have been able to travel more conveniently, but when it rains, the bridge quickly floods. Although there are warnings, some people from other areas still cross and encounter problems. My house is near the bridge, and as if by instinct, whenever I hear cries for help, I take a shortcut over the hill to help, because everyone’s life is incredibly precious. Those who are unfortunate enough to be in trouble are just like us; they all want to live,” Mr. Thanh confided.

He has saved people in critical situations many times, but the "otter" of Lim village doesn't consider it a big deal. For him, it's simply doing what he can, within his capabilities. Even though saving people sometimes puts him in danger, he confides that he has never hesitated or given a second thought to himself about whether he will be rewarded.

I remember around 2022, during a heavy rain, Mr. Thanh was sitting inside his house when he heard desperate cries for help. He immediately rushed out and saw a young man clinging to a tree, struggling in the water. A crowd of people stood on either side of the bridge, but no one dared jump in to rescue him because the water was too high. Earlier, the young man had tried to cross the stream but was swept away by the current, only managing to cling to the tree to call for help.

Very quickly, Mr. Thanh rushed home, grabbed a 20-liter can, and swam out, struggling against the strong current to try and pull the young man to shore. When he jumped into the floodwaters, his wife, Ms. Quang Thi Lien, and their children didn't dare stop him; they just stood on the bank, panicked, worried, and crying.

After struggling with the raging floodwaters for about 10 minutes, he managed to get the young man to shore. Just about 5 minutes later, the tree fell and the young man was swept away by the water. Everyone said the young man was incredibly lucky to have been rescued by Mr. Thanh in time.

After a few such incidents, Mr. Thanh's wife gradually got used to it, trusting in her husband's abilities and remaining calm to avoid affecting his mental state when rescuing people in critical situations. Mr. Thanh said he believed in his abilities and judgment.

During a heavy rainstorm, the water started to flood. A couple returning from the hospital were helping each other push their motorbike across the bridge at dusk. When they reached the middle of the bridge, the water surged around them, threatening to sweep them and their motorbike away. Hearing their cries for help, Mr. Thanh ran from his house to rescue them, and his son also came to assist his father in bringing them and their motorbike to safety on the shore.

“Once they were ashore, they were shivering from the cold, thanking me profusely. The husband even offered me money, but I didn't take it. For me, saving people safely is a feeling of joy, happiness, and relief…”

Sharing his experience in rescuing people at risk of drowning in streams, especially during storms, the "otter" from Lim village said it requires good physical strength and health, especially excellent swimming skills and the ability to assess the situation to choose the right moment. He explained that in many cases, recklessly rescuing someone from drowning in the wrong way has resulted in the tragic deaths of both the victim and the rescuer.

Besides the joy of saving lives, Mr. Thanh also experienced heartbreaking moments while participating in rescue operations, searching for and recovering people who had drowned. For example, in 2024, there was a case of a high school student named VBK who drowned in a stream near Lim village while fishing on a weekend.

The local rescue team searched for two hours without success. Then, Mr. Thanh joined the search, diving to a depth of about 5 meters for an hour, and found K.'s body.

“I could hold my breath for a minute, diving down and surfacing repeatedly, without any protective equipment, relying only on my swimming ability, judgment, and caution. But while submerged in the deep crevice, I was determined to find the child, and luckily, I found him. His family even came to my house to express their gratitude; I felt so much compassion for them…”

Living near a stream, Mr. Thanh often reminds his children and the other children in the village to be vigilant and ensure their safety. His children (one son and one daughter) were both taught to swim by their father and knew how to swim from a young age. During the rainy season, the "otter" of Lim village often warns passersby to be careful when crossing the flooded bridge area or is ready to assist anyone who needs help…

In our conversation in his cozy stilt house, Mr. Thanh expressed that he is just an ordinary person making a living by planting, cutting, and carrying acacia wood for hire. He said that his actions are small, stemming from his heart, and nothing grand or significant. Yet, many people believe that "living in this world requires a kind heart," like Mr. Ha Van Thanh's, to spread kindness and good deeds in the community...

The courageous spirit and kind deeds, the selflessness of Mr. Ha Van Thanh, were highlighted by Mr. Sam Van Lan - Secretary of the Party Committee of Chau Phong commune - on his personal Facebook page. Just a few brief lines of introduction about him...He was a skilled swimmer who saved many people from drowning, participated in search and rescue operations, and was always there to support the families of victims at the right time...." This is enough to portray the portrait of an ordinary person, yet not mediocre."

Many people expressed admiration for Mr. Thanh's kind gesture and sent their best wishes to the "exemplary and courageous citizen," wishing him good health and good fortune.

Mr. Vi Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Chau Phong Commune People's Committee, who personally took us to meet the "otters" of Lim village, shared: Chau Phong has two overflow bridges located on Provincial Road 544. In Lim village, there are about 10 households situated between these two bridges, and they are isolated whenever it rains heavily and the area floods. Currently, the Vai Chon bridge (bordering Lim and Moi villages) has been constructed and completed before the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake, but the remaining overflow bridge in Lim village is in a very difficult situation. It floods after about two hours of rain, making it very dangerous for vehicles to pass. In addition to posting warning signs, the commune authorities have assigned a team to be on duty 24/7, prohibiting people and vehicles from crossing.

However, some people from other areas occasionally still carelessly cross the river and encounter incidents where their vehicles and people are swept away. Nevertheless, the patrol team and search and rescue team enthusiastically respond to these incidents. Among them, Mr. Vi Văn Thanh, with his excellent swimming skills and selfless spirit, has rescued many people who were swept away.

Every year, when summarizing the work of flood and storm prevention, rescue, and relief, the Party Committee and the local government of the commune always highlight Mr. Ha Van Thanh as an exemplary figure. In 2024, Mr. Thanh – the "otter" of Lim village – was also honored to receive a Certificate of Commendation from the People's Committee of the commune for his contributions to rescue and relief work.

Standing on the overflow bridge and gazing at the swirling water below, the "otter" from Lim village expressed: "I've always believed that in life, one must do something useful for the community. Saving lives is the right thing to do, so as long as I have the health and ability, I will continue to participate in rescue operations."

However, Mr. Thanh and the people of Lim village still hope that the authorities and relevant agencies will soon provide support to build a flood-resistant bridge so that people can travel more conveniently and no longer have to worry when it rains heavily and the water rises.

Because concentrating local and village forces to guard and monitor the area around the overflow bridge to ensure safety during floods is only a temporary solution, in the long term, a proper flood-resistant bridge is still needed to ensure the safety of people's lives and property, as well as to facilitate trade and promote the socio-economic development of the locality.