Chapter 1030: Dead?
Riverbank.
The crowd got bigger, and the ambulances arrived.
Wan Fanglei and Zhong Zhengwei immediately directed the rescue efforts. They ordered the staff to disperse the crowd and perform emergency first aid to the victims. CPR was administered, and those unconscious victims woke up.
Three.
Five.
Seven.
Dong Xuebing dragged many victims to the surface several times within two minutes and was almost at his limits. He was panting and looked pale. His lips had turned purple, and he was s.h.i.+vering and shaking. The scars and wounds on his topless body were exposed to everyone.
The reporters were stunned and quickly took pictures of Dong Xuebing.
How can someone enter the freezing water with a body full of wounds? Yet, he managed to save so many people.
This is Dong Xuebing!
This is Fen Zhou Citys famous Director Dong!
Many people had finally seen it. The rumors about Dong Xuebing were true.
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath and asked in a hoa.r.s.e voice. Is everyone rescued? He sounded weak as he had reached his limits.
Theres one more person.
Yes! A small boy is still in the waters.
The staff on the riverbank replied.
A crying middle-aged woman screamed. My boy is still not out yet! Director Dong! Please save him! Please. I beg you.
One more?! Dong Xuebing clenched his teeth.
Liu Hanqing said. The fire department is reaching. Lets wait for them.
Zhan Guiping and the rest could tell Dong Xuebing had no stamina. It was a miracle for him to save so many people with his wounds, and they did not want him to take the risk. Come up and rest, Xiao Dong. You cannot go in anymore.
Many people tried to persuade Dong Xuebing.
Luo Haiting said to that woman. Sis, Director Dong cannot enter the water again. He is at his limits. Dont be anxious. The fire department is reaching soon.
How can that woman not be anxious? Other peoples children were rescued, but her son is still in the water. She kneeled in front of Dong Xuebing. Director Dong! Please save my son! Please.
Dont do this, Sis.
Sob sob sob. Please.
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath and clenched his fist.
He Shuien noticed it and quickly said. You cannot go into the water again, Xiao Dong!
Xie Huilan did not say anything as she stared at Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing gave an apologetic look to his wife and dived into the water again.
Xiao Dong!
Director!
Zhong Zhengwei shouted. Why is the fire department not here yet?! What the h.e.l.l are they doing?!
Under the water.
Dong Xuebing felt different when he dived into the water this time. His arms and legs felt heavier, and swimming wasn't easy. He could only hold his breath for less than twenty seconds.
Dong Xuebing knew he was at his limits, but he got to save that kid. He pushed himself to dive deeper and search for that kid.
Where is he?!
Where the h.e.l.l is he?!
Dong Xuebing had searched this area when he was rescuing the others. Most of the victims were found within ten meters of where he was. But he did not see that boy. That boy must have drifted elsewhere
The boy could have drifted in any direction.
How is he going to find him? How long will it take to find that boy?!
Dong Xuebing swam forward for a while but did not see that boy. The air in his lungs had run out, and he could not go any further. This was the furthest he could go, and he had to return to the surface. He clenched his teeth and pressed his hand on his chest. REVERSE!
One second.
Two seconds.
Dong Xuebings lungs and respiratory system returned to their previous condition.
Dong Xuebing immediately felt better. However, he knew this was a short-term solution. He must find that boy before he drowns.
Riverbank.
*Vomit!
A little girl vomited lots of water and opened her eyes slowly. Her parents quickly carried her and cried.
The last girl Dong Xuebing rescued was safe. The medical staff wiped their sweat, and the leaders were relieved. It was a miracle no one had died in this accident, and everyone knew it was Dong Xuebings credit. If he had not entered the water, these people would be dead.
Everyone is human, and why is the difference so big?
Is Dong Xuebing made from steel?!
The rescue effort was smooth, and a few ambulances drove off with the victims. However, no one was cheering as a boy was still missing.
Silence.
Everyone looked at the water surface of that large crack in the ice.
The few reporters pointed their cameras at that crack. They were waiting for the moment Dong Xuebing surfaced with the victim. The last ambulance drove nearer the riverbank, waiting for the final victim.
Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes and waited.
Zhan Guiping paced up and down nervously.
Luo Haiting was swinging her fists anxiously.
Those civilians who had scolded Dong Xuebing earlier were waiting quietly.
Thirty seconds pa.s.sed.
One minute pa.s.sed.
The worse had happened.
Dong Xuebing had not surfaced after two minutes.
Holding your breath underwater is different. Holding your breath for one to two minutes is considered long, and most people can only hold their breath for less than a minute underwater. Moreover, the water is freezing, and Dong Xuebing needs more energy to dive deeper. Holding your breath for more than 30 seconds in the freezing water is considered long. Even those professional rescue divers can only hold their breaths for two minutes.
Two minutes pa.s.sed, and Dong Xuebing had not surfaced.
He Shuien shouted. s.h.i.+t! Xiao Dong might be in trouble!
Zhong Zhengwei, Zhan Guiping, and the rests faces changed.
An old man walked out from the crowd. He is the grandfather of a boy rescued by Dong Xuebing earlier. Hurry and save Director Dong!
The other civilians started shouting.
Thats right! Director Dong is a good official!
Where are the rescuers!? Hurry and save him!
No one can enter the water like Dong Xuebing without any diving equipment.
The mother of the missing child sat on the riverbank and cried. She knew Director Dong and her son should be drowned.
Another minute pa.s.sed.
Its been three minutes since Dong Xuebing dived underwater.
Xie Huilan stood on the riverbank with a frown.
Mayor Xie was always smiling, and very few people saw her frown. They knew she was worried for her husband.
He Shuien looked at Xie Huilan and said. Xiao Dong will be fine.
Zhan Guiping added. Thats right. He is strong.
Xie Huilan nodded and did not say anything.
Although they said these, Zhan Guiping and the rest knew Dong Xuebing had exceeded his limits. He had dived with his injured body several times and dragged many people to the surface.
Minutes pa.s.sed.
Everyone got more worried.
Four minutes.
Six minutes.
Eight minutes.
Ten minutes.
The riverbank was quiet.
The air was filled with anxiety.
A few civilians in the crowd wiped their tears silently.
Holding his breath for 2 minutes underwater was the maximum, and Dong Xuebing was underwater for ten minutes. An average person would have died several times!
The fire departments rescue vehicles finally arrived, and they rushed to the riverbank.
The fire department staff noticed the angry looks on Zhong Zhengwei, Zhan Guiping, and other leaders faces and the sadness on the civilians faces. They knew Dong Xuebing could not survive.