30-6-2024 (GUANGZHOU) A Chinese woman, Ms. Hu Youping, 54, has tragically lost her life after courageously intervening to protect a Japanese mother and her preschool-aged son from a knife-wielding assailant in Suzhou, China. The local authorities have confirmed her passing, prompting an outpouring of grief and admiration for her heroic actions.
Official media and Chinese social media platforms have been flooded with praise for Ms. Hu, a bus assistant who suffered severe injuries while attempting to stop the attacker. Her selfless act has been hailed as a shining example of bravery and compassion.
The horrific incident unfolded on the evening of June 24 while the Japanese woman and her young son were waiting at a bus stop. According to eyewitness accounts cited by Xinhua News Agency, Ms. Hu was on board the school bus when she noticed the attack in progress.
Without hesitation, Ms. Hu sprang into action, grabbing the assailant from behind in an attempt to subdue him. Tragically, the man turned his knife on Ms. Hu, stabbing her repeatedly, and continuing his assault even after she fell to the ground.
Thanks to Ms. Hu’s courageous intervention, the injuries sustained by the Japanese mother and her son were not life-threatening. However, the cost of her bravery was immense, as she succumbed to her wounds on June 26 after falling unconscious.
The Suzhou Municipal People’s Government’s Public Security Bureau acknowledged that Ms. Hu’s actions prevented the incident from escalating into an even greater tragedy, potentially saving multiple lives.
News of Ms. Hu’s passing quickly rose to the top of search rankings on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, with over 20,000 comments pouring in, hailing her as a “great” and a “hero.” The outpouring of support and admiration for her selfless sacrifice has been overwhelming.
In a show of respect and solidarity, the Japanese Embassy in Beijing and the Consulate-General in Shanghai lowered their flags to half-mast on June 28. Japanese Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, expressed his deepest condolences and admiration for Ms. Hu’s courageous actions.
“On behalf of the Japanese government and people, I would like to express my deepest respect and sincere condolences for the woman’s courageous action,” Ambassador Kanasugi told reporters. He emphasized that Japan would work closely with Chinese authorities to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals within the country.
