Spreading the spirit and bravery of saving people in floods

In the midst of the raging water, the head of the Security and Order Protection Team at the facility, Phan Van Thanh (born in 1989), participated in saving the lives of three children, but he himself was the one who never returned. More than a month after his passing, that brave spirit has become a learning movement and gradually spread widely...

Thanh Cong commune Party Committee and government met to discuss and deploy a movement to study and follow the brave actions of Phan Van Thanh.

Xuan Ha 1 Hamlet (Thanh Cong Commune) has returned to peace in the days after the flood, but every time they pass through the fields, people still talk about Phan Van Thanh, the man who bravely jumped into the water, sacrificing himself to save three children from drowning.

On the altar in the middle of the ground-level house in Xuan Ha 1 hamlet, the Medal of Courage sparkled under the yellow light. Looking at her son's portrait with red eyes, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thao trembled: My brother was on duty during the storm and flood for three consecutive days, and my wife was working as a factory worker, so she asked me to come over to her house to look after our two daughters. The day before, he had been out in the water all day searching for victims, and on October 1, he was still on duty, so mother and son had not yet met each other early in the morning. Who would have thought...

That day, while on duty responding to the flood, he discovered three children being swept away by the flood on a residential road through the field. Without hesitation, Mr. Phan Van Thanh and two nearby residents joined in the rescue. After saving two children, he turned back to save the third child. Mr. Thanh was exhausted and only had time to tell everyone to come and help the child, but he was swept away by the flood.

His body was found later, nearly a hundred meters from the scene of the incident. He passed away at the age of 36, leaving behind a wife and two small children. His brave and selfless act of saving people touched the hearts of many people in and outside the province.

In Mrs. Thao’s memory, Thanh was a dutiful son, a responsible husband and father who loved his family. He was always loved by the neighbors and the children in the village.

Mr. Nguyen Van Van, Secretary of the Party Cell of Xuan Ha 1 Hamlet, shared: Mr. Thanh is an exemplary citizen, an outstanding mass being introduced to join the Party. Mr. Thanh lives a loyal life, always enthusiastically helping people and neighbors.

On October 20, 2025, the President posthumously awarded the Medal of Courage to Phan Van Thanh.

Previously, on October 19, 2025, the People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province issued Decision No. 1571/QD-UBND on launching a movement to learn from the brave example of saving people of Mr. Phan Van Thanh.

In Thanh Cong commune, his brave and benevolent spirit is incorporated into the activities of the Party cell, unions, and in every propaganda activity of the locality.

Representatives of the government and organizations of Thanh Cong commune visited and encouraged the relatives of Phan Van Thanh.

Mr. Nguyen Van Duong, Vice Chairman of Thanh Cong Commune People's Committee, said: After Mr. Phan Van Thanh's brave act of saving 3 children, the local government coordinated with specialized units to post an article about Mr. Thanh's example on the commune's electronic information portal and Zalo groups of the community digital technology team.

Along with the organization of awarding Certificates of Merit, the local government is completing the dossier to propose recognition of martyrs, and will continue to widely propagate to schools and residential areas to spread that spirit of beautiful living.

Together with the local government, the Thanh Cong Commune Police force also considers this a highlight in the political and ideological education work for officers and soldiers. Captain Nguyen Huu Ha, Deputy Chief of Thanh Cong Commune Police, shared: The bravery of comrade Phan Van Thanh is a shining example for us to learn and practice.

The Commune Police force has been propagating and training people on disaster prevention, response, and rescue skills; at the same time, discovering and praising good deeds to spread the spirit of living for the community...

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202510/lan-toa-tinh-than-guong-dung-cam-cuu-nguoi-trong-mua-lu-9b77680/