A 30-year-old man in southern China risked his life by swimming through floodwaters for several hours to rescue his parents after losing contact with them during severe flooding triggered by torrential rain. The incident occurred on July 6 in Qinzhou, located in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where widespread flooding has caused extensive damage, displaced thousands of residents and disrupted communication networks.

According to the South China Morning Post, the man, identified only by his surname Xie, decided to make the dangerous journey after repeated attempts to contact his parents by phone failed. The previous night, his mother had informed him that his 63-year-old father had gone to secure harvested rice stored in their flood-hit home but had not returned. As floodwaters continued to rise, power outages knocked out mobile networks, leaving the family completely cut off from one another.

Unable to wait for updates, Xie entered the floodwaters and swam for nearly three hours to reach his parents' home. Upon arriving, he found both of them safe despite the dangerous conditions. However, instead of praising his courageous effort, his parents reportedly scolded him for putting his own life at risk by attempting such a hazardous rescue. Their reaction reflected concern for their son's safety rather than the success of his rescue attempt.

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After ensuring that his parents were safe, Xie returned to the city later the same day, swimming for another two hours through the floodwaters. His extraordinary effort has drawn widespread attention on Chinese social media, with many users praising his determination and devotion to his family while also acknowledging the immense dangers posed by the flooding.

The floods in Guangxi have been caused by days of heavy rainfall, resulting in overflowing rivers, dam failures and severe inundation across several areas. According to reports, at least 39 people have lost their lives, while nearly 400,000 residents have been affected by the disaster. Authorities have continued rescue operations, evacuated vulnerable communities and worked to restore electricity and communication services in the affected regions.

Extreme weather events have become increasingly frequent in several parts of China during the annual rainy season, often leading to flash floods and widespread disruption. Officials have urged residents in flood-prone areas to follow evacuation advisories and avoid travelling through dangerous waters. Xie's rescue mission has emerged as one of the many stories highlighting both the human cost of the disaster and the extraordinary lengths people go to protect their loved ones.

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