The untold story of the moment of saving lives with "farmer technology"

At noon on July 3, while working near Ben Mong Bridge (Chu Se Commune, Gia Lai Province), Mr. Tran Van Nghia suddenly heard people shouting for help because a child was stuck in the middle of the water.

"Hero" Tran Van Nghia (residing in Chu Se commune, Gia Lai province) with a drone spraying pesticides to save two children in the flood. Photo" NVCC.

Farmer Tran Van Nghia (residing in Chu Se commune, Gia Lai province) is not a rescue soldier, nor does he wear any military uniform or specialized equipment other than a DJI T50 agricultural drone used to spray pesticides on sweet potatoes. However, it was that drone, his quick wits, and his unhesitating heart in the face of danger that became the savior for three children isolated in the floodwaters.

Quick response, saving lives

Mr. Tran Van Nghia said that at noon on July 3, while he was working near Ben Mong Bridge, he heard a desperate cry for help from the riverbank. Looking over, he saw three children aged 10 to 13 – herding cows – stuck in an alluvial plain in the middle of the river. The cows had safely crossed the riverbank, but the children were completely cut off and isolated by the floodwaters pouring in from upstream.

“In just a few minutes, the water rose nearly half a meter, the current was very strong. Some villagers swam out but had to turn back before reaching the destination,” Nghia recounted.

Amidst the floodwaters, a baby was brought to shore from a Drone. Photo: NVCC.

While the adults were still confused about how to approach, Mr. Nghia suddenly came up with a bold idea: using the DJI T50 drone that he was using to spray pesticides, to approach and save the children.

“At first, many people stopped me because it was dangerous, and if the drone fell into the water, it would be even more confusing. But I thought if I didn’t do anything, the children could be swept away,” he recalled the decisive moment.

The drone can carry up to 50kg. He tied a rope to the body of the drone, flew it to where the children were standing, and pulled them to shore one by one, with the underwater support of the people.

During the 10 tense minutes, he controlled the boat while continuously probing for water, adjusting direction and altitude. In the tense moments, his heart was pounding, “every time he felt the rope tighten, his stomach would pound.”

With his intelligence and bravery, two children were saved one by one, and one child was picked up by his family in a boat when the water started to rise to nearly 2 meters above where they were standing. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and applause rang out on the riverbank.

"After saving the children, the villagers were very happy. Their families invited me to their house to thank them, but I refused and went back to work," he smiled gently.

"Rain of praise" for the "hero" farmer

This creative response not only saved the children’s lives but also moved and impressed many people. On forums and groups, Mr. Nghia’s beautiful actions received a “shower of compliments” from the online community. Thousands of comments expressed their emotion and admiration for this simple farmer.

The images are touching and touch the hearts of many people.

Many people call him a “brown-shirted hero” in everyday life. A Facebook account shared: “This is a real hero. No need for a cape, just a brave heart”. Someone choked up: “Mr. Nghia not only saved three children, but also saved our belief in kindness in this life”. Another emotional comment wrote: “Not a superhero, not a professional rescuer, but he did extraordinary things – just with a drone and a heart of love”.

Many young people expressed their admiration: “When they grow up, those three children will never forget the farmer who gave them a second chance at life.” Compliments such as “So creative, so humane”, “The handling is more touching than an action movie” or “Vietnamese heart in the midst of raging water” appeared densely under posts sharing the video of the incident. It can be said that in the eyes of the community, Mr. Nghia’s actions were not only to save people but also a source of inspiration that touched hearts.

Mr. Pham Van Duc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ia Tul Commune, said that Mr. Nghia's act of saving people was "commendable". Commune leaders also confirmed that all three children in the video shared on social media were local residents, and Mr. Nghia was the first person to come up with the idea of using a drone to save people.

“In an emergency situation, being calm, creative and daring to act like that is very rare,” said Mr. Duc.

The Ba River – the largest river in the central coastal region – is a fierce river during the rainy season. The section passing through Gia Lai province has many branches, mounds of earth, and the upstream hydroelectric plant often releases floodwaters, causing the water to rise quickly and unexpectedly. River accidents have occurred in this area before, but no one had thought of using agricultural aircraft to rescue people until July 3.

The improvisation of Mr. Tran Van Nghia - an ordinary farmer - not only saved the lives of children, but also inspired hope and faith amidst the turbulent waters of life.