Marta Santana, a 31-year-old Spanish tourist in China, has became an Internet sensation after bravely rescuing a child from drowning in the Tuo River in Hunan province on August 7.
Santana, a former swimming coach, was travelling with friends when she saw the boy fall into the river and struggle to swim against the strong currents which rapidly begin to drag him down stream. Without even a second’s hesitation for her own safety, she kicked off her shoes and dived in to save him, followed by the child’s grandfather, who also leaped into the water. Together, they safely brought the boy to shore unharmed.
The dramatic rescue was captured on video and shared on Weibo, China’s equivalent of X, and quickly amassed 1.8 million views on the first day. The story trended under the hashtag “foreign tourist bravely saves child in Fenghuang ancient city,” becoming one of the most discussed topics on Chinese social media that week. Santana’s decade of experience as a swimming coach and lifeguard sparked her instinctive response. “I didn’t think twice; I just wanted to get him out of the water,” she said, adding, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” She also praised the grandfather’s courage for joining her in the rescue.
Yang Xiaoli, the local culture and tourism official in Fenghuang County, thanked Santana for her selfless actions as having performed “an act of heroism,” saying that her bravery and kindness were truly admirable. Santana, on her first trip to China, expressed relief that the child was safe and reaffirmed her commitment to helping others in need.
