[Video/Nantong International Communication Center]

Magnus Loft Helgosson, a Swedish product manager at Scania Manufacturing (China) in Nantong, became an unexpected hero on Aug 17 when he rescued a woman from drowning in a local park.

At around 5 pm that day, Zeng, a woman visiting Zilang Park, accidentally fell into the water. Fortunately, Helgosson, who was cycling nearby, quickly dropped his bike and jumped into the lake, swimming rapidly to help Zeng. He was able to rescue her and safely bring her back to shore. After confirming she was out of danger, he quietly left the scene. Soon after, park security, police, and medical personnel arrived, and Zeng was transported to the hospital for treatment.

After hearing about the accident, Zeng's brother and family traveled over 2,000 kilometers from Yunnan province to Nantong on Aug 19. While caring for Zeng, they also searched for the kind-hearted rescuer. Staff from the Guanshan Community quickly identified Helgosson as the likely rescuer by noting his visit to Zilang Park, his nearby residence, and his foreign nationality, leading to his swift localization.

Thanks to community help, both parties finally reunited three days after the incident. "We are very happy to see she is okay," said Helgosson, who moved from Sweden to Nantong with his family in 2024, expressing relief. He recalled that his wife was the first to notice someone in the water, which triggered his immediate response. "I had no time to think," he explained, "but luckily, I'm a good swimmer and acted as quickly as I could."

Despite the language barriers, Helgosson's prompt intervention during a crisis forged a strong bond between the two families. He reassured them that the difficult period is over and that improvements are ahead. Grateful, Zeng's brother warmly invited Helgosson and his family to visit Yunnan, expressing sincere thanks.