Chinese doctor dies rescuing woman from ocean waters

The leader of a Chinese medical team in Tanzania is reported to have lost his life after going to the aid of a woman in trouble in the sea off Dar es Salaam.

The death of Zhang Junqiao, 38, on June 15, was confirmed by officials of the city of Weifang, Shandong province, for whom he had worked.

On seeing the Tanzanian woman struggling, Zhang was reported to have gone to her rescue, giving her his life jacket. However, after he pushed her to safety he was dragged away by the current and apparently drowned, one report said. It was unclear whether his body had been recovered.

The circumstances of his death were all the more poignant in that before going to Tanzania, Zhang had founded Xintiao Xingdong (the Heartbeat Initiative), a nationwide campaign to teach the public first-aid skills and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating.

Zhang arrived in Tanzania in January last year, the leader of the 27th Chinese medical team on a two-year medical aid mission at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam with 10 other medical professionals from Shandong province.

He was among the youngest members of the team, the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University said.

Zhang's death drew an outpouring of grief on social media, with a contributor named Malisa saying: "Zhang used his life to lift up a Tanzanian citizen, and also the most precious friendship between China and Tanzania."

Others lauded his contribution as a doctor.

His WeChat Moments include a photo of a joyful reunion with his wife and two children, and his final post, on June 8, reads: "Serving the people knows no borders. As a Chinese doctor who has come abroad, I am very proud of my country and my profession, and I want my colleagues in Tanzania to feel the strength of China and Chinese doctors."

After arriving in Tanzania 17 months ago Zhang focused on training local doctors in techniques such as video laryngoscopy to reduce anesthesia-related risks.

"True aid isn't just giving someone a fish, but teaching them to fish," a China Daily report quoted him as saying.

One of the medical team's notable contributions was donating visual anesthesia equipment, including video laryngoscopes and bronchoscopes, to the anesthesiology department of Muhimbili National Hospital in November.

Zhang was quoted as saying: "Previously, difficult airway cases posed a major risk — patients couldn't be intubated, leading to life-threatening situations. Now with these tools we can solve problems that were once impossible here."

Among the many patients Zhang helped was an 8-year-old diagnosed with a severe abdominal wall hernia. The boy formed a special bond with the Chinese medical team, which gave him the Chinese name Qilu. Qilu refers to the ancient kingdoms of Qi and Lu, located in what is now Shandong province, one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization.

The boy's family, unable to afford surgery, had nearly given up hope until the Chinese medical team stepped in. They arranged for the operation at the hospital and pooled resources to cover the medical costs. After the surgery, the boy's mother asked the team to give him a Chinese name as a token of gratitude.

Zhang chose Qilu, saying, "We hope this name symbolizes the unbreakable bond between China and Tanzania."

For Zhang, healing extended beyond the operating room. He immersed himself in Tanzanian life, learned useful phrases, visited an orphanage and donated blood.

He also played soccer with teenagers and was a long-distance runner, enjoying the ocean views on the way to the hospital, about 7 kilometers from his home.

"To truly help, you must become part of the community. When I greet people — even if I confuse words like eyes and mouth — their faces light up. It's like when foreigners try Chinese; the effort builds trust."

Before going to Tanzania, Zhang had been part of the Shandong medical team dispatched to Hubei province when COVID-19 broke out in 2020.

He also started a street-side initiative in Weifang in which he knelt on sidewalks to demonstrate chest compressions to passersby. What began as a modest effort quickly evolved into a public health campaign involving hundreds of medical workers in 20 cities.

His dedication drew widespread acclaim, including a nomination as a "Good Doctor of China", a national honor recognizing exceptional medical professionals.

During Zhang's time in Tanzania he continued to promote health education, extending the initiative to Chinese companies operating locally.

Xinhua News Agency contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at houchenchen@chinadaily.com.cn