Japan to honor two Vietnamese men for rescuing children swept out to sea
The Mie Prefectural Government in Japan will present two young Vietnamese men with certificates of commendation for their bravery.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Naka Fire Department in Japan's Tsu City will host a ceremony on August 28 to award and commend Pham Quoc Dat and Tong Manh Tuan, two Vietnamese young men, for rescuing Japanese kids from drowning.
On August 11, the two youths were at Gotemba Beach in Mie Prefecture with a group of 15 other Vietnamese friends when they spotted two Japanese children in distress.
The children, who had been playing in a seaside playground, were suddenly carried away by strong waves and winds, drifting nearly 100 meters from shore and about 700 meters along the coastline.
Pham Quoc Dat and Tong Manh Tuan. Photo: Dantri
Hearing faint cries for help, the two young men immediately plunged into the sea. Meanwhile, their friends on shore quickly alerted the police and called for assistance from nearby people.
After battling heavy waves for about 30 minutes, Dat and Tuan brought the children safely back to shore, to the overwhelming relief of their family and onlookers.
“Sensing someone was in danger, my first instinct was to save them,” Dat spoke to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Japan.
Although their initial attempt failed when waves pushed the children’s floats out of reach, the pair dove back in without hesitation, fearing the floats could overturn in the rough seas and put the children’s lives at risk.
Upon receiving the information, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu decided to award certificates of merit to the two young Vietnamese men for their courageous act.
