Playing in the water at Laiyi Bridge in Pingtung was a near miss! A 13-year-old junior high school student was involved in a flood in Jishuikou, Erfeng Town, and was rescued by an excavator.

A thrilling drowning accident occurred at noon today (9th) at the sand dam below the Laiyi Bridge in Laiyi Township, Pingtung County! The Chaozhou Police Station received a report at 12:57 today that people fell into the water at the scene. According to preliminary information from the police, a 13-year-old junior high school student, his mother, relatives and friends, a total of 10 people, took advantage of the holiday to go to the bottom of the Laiyi Bridge to barbecue and play in the water. Unexpectedly, the boy accidentally fell into the sand dam while playing in the water. He was instantly swept up by the rapid water and sank into the water and disappeared. The family members were frightened and reported the crime quickly.

After receiving the report, the Pingtung County Fire Department did not dare to be careless. It immediately dispatched the Laiyi, Wanluan, Xinpi, Chaozhou, Longquan detachments, the Second Brigade and the Special Search Brigade. A total of 9 vehicles, 18 people (including 3 divers), 1 lifeboat and 2 aerial drones were rushed to the scene for search and rescue. At the same time, they urgently requested support from the Water Resources Department. Due to the turbulent currents at the site, divers risked several dives to search and rescue but found nothing, and the rescue was once in a stalemate.

In order to gain golden rescue time, Lin Shibin, the on-site commander and deputy captain of the Second Brigade, immediately adjusted his tactics. At 3:35 pm, two excavators supported by the Water Resources Department successfully arrived at the site, and immediately started excavation and cutting off the water flow, successfully reducing the water level and water speed. As the water flow became smaller, search and rescue personnel seized the opportunity to expand the search, and finally found and rescued the teenager at "Erfengzhen Kaishui Kou" at 4:35 pm.

The boy was conscious and his vital signs were stable when he was rescued. The on-site ambulance personnel did not dare to be careless, and at 4:43 pm, Wanluan ambulance rushed him to Chaozhou Antai Hospital for comprehensive examination and treatment. In this thrilling accident of falling into the water, with the joint efforts of the police, water conservancy units and search and rescue personnel, a life was successfully saved from death, which was a false alarm. The police and fire bureau also once again appealed to the public to be more vigilant, pay attention to the surrounding hydrology and their own safety when going to streams, sand dams and other waters to play in the water or engage in outdoor activities, and not to set foot in dangerous areas to avoid regrets.