Chinese grandmother Liu Defang, 71, learnt to swim only after retiring; years later, she rescued a man in his 30s from a river

Chinese grandmother Liu Defang, 71, had only learned to swim a few years after retiring, but the skill eventually helped her save the life of a man in his 30s. According to the South China Morning Post, Liu was near a bridge in Suixi county, Anhui province, on July 13 when she heard that someone had fallen into the river. She rushed toward the water and, after taking a lifebuoy thrown by a nearby woman, entered the river to rescue the man.

She learned swimming after retirement

Liu had spent most of her life without knowing how to swim. According to Good News Network, it was only after retirement that she decided to learn, eventually developing enough confidence in the water to swim on her own. That decision unexpectedly prepared her for an emergency years later.When Liu heard cries for help near the bridge, she initially thought a child might have fallen into the river. She removed her shoes and headed toward the water. A woman nearby threw a lifebuoy into the river, which Liu took with her as she went in.She swam toward the person struggling in the water and managed to reach him. It was only when she got closer that she realised the person was a man in his 30s, rather than the child she had initially imagined. The rescue was not straightforward. The man resisted Liu’s efforts and tried to pull away, but she continued holding on to him and worked to bring him closer to the riverbank.

A risky rescue

Liu eventually managed to bring the man to safety, with people on shore helping after she reached the bank. The rescue left her exhausted, and she quietly left the scene without seeking attention.According to the South China Morning Post, surveillance footage later showed that the man had climbed onto the bridge railing before jumping into the river. The incident was reportedly linked to relationship problems.Rather than staying at the scene to be recognised, Liu quietly left while still wearing her wet clothes. She also initially chose not to tell her family about what had happened because she was worried they would be concerned about her. Her decision to remain anonymous did not last.

Footage revealed her identity

Police later released surveillance footage in an effort to identify the woman who had entered the river. The video began circulating on Chinese social media, where viewers praised the unidentified rescuer. Liu’s brother eventually recognised her in the footage. Her family was relieved that she was safe but also worried about the danger she had faced by entering the river at 71.Liu’s brother reportedly scolded her for taking such a risk, while her daughter was also concerned about what could have happened to her. For Liu, however, the focus remained on the man she had rescued. She said she hoped he would understand that difficult moments can pass and that there is always a reason to keep going.Her actions have since drawn attention because of the unusual path that led to the rescue. Liu did not learn to swim as a child or as a young adult. She picked up the skill only after retirement, when many people might consider taking on a new physical activity less necessary.Yet that decision eventually became crucial. When an emergency unfolded in front of her, Liu had a skill that allowed her to act rather than simply watch from the shore. Her story is therefore not only about an elderly woman rescuing someone from a river. It is also a reminder that learning something new later in life can have an impact far beyond its original purpose. For Liu, learning to swim after retirement unexpectedly gave her the ability to help save another person’s life years later.