Wanzhou Bus Accident: Son on Team to Rescue Own Father

By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

In the accident where Wanzhou’s bus plunged into the river, Zhou Xiaobo, a member of a civilian rescue team, was sparing no effort in rescue operation when hearing that his father was in the bus. At 10:00 of November 1, Zhou Xiaobo went to the funeral parlor, standing motionless in front of his father’s remains, and his cheeks were dripping with tears. He saw his father Zhou Daguan four days ago. However, he could not believe that his father has left him forever.

As Zhou Xiaobo serves as the deputy leader of Wanzhou’s Blue Sky Rescue Team, he struggled for four days and nights the same as other rescue personnel to make the salvage operation of the passengers missing. The only difference is that his father is one of them.

The Words “I Know” Become the Farewell

Zhou Xiaobo got up early on the morning of October 28. Taking a temporary post in the Education Commission of Wanzhou District, he had to go to the sports meeting held in Wanzhou on that day.

“I heard that Chrysanthemums put forth flowers in Wanzhou Xishan Park, so give me a ride on your way.” Zhou Daguan asked his son to take him here after knowing that he would go to the field.

After eating breakfast together, Zhou Xiaobo sent his father near the park. “I’m busy, so I may be not available to pick you up.” Zhou Xiaobo said.

“I know, and I will go back by myself.” He understands his son’s hardships. However, it was never thought that they would “meet” each other in four days after the rushed farewell.

Zhou Xiaobo was so busy working in the field that he had no time to answer his sister’s calls.

“Do you know where dad is?” When he was free, he answered her sister’s call, and she asked anxiously. She told Zhou Xiaobo that she couldn’t get through to dad. “It has run through the Moments. Don’t you know that there was an accident on the Second Wanzhou Yangtze River Bridge? A No. 22 Bus fell into the river.”

Zhou Xiaobo immediately dialed his father’ number, but what he heard was still “the number you dialed is busy now”.

“Maybe he is in somewhere that the signal is a little weak.” At that time, Zhou Xiaobo didn’t connect the plunged bus with his father.

As a rescuer, however, he went home first and put on his suit, and then rushed to the site.

Receiving the Grievous News, He Suppresses His Sorrow and Continues Rescue

After arriving on the scene, Zhou Xiaobo, with other members, promptly took the steamboat to the site where the bus plunged. They attempted to seek survivors but found nothing. Zhou Xiaobo was so fully occupied that he couldn’t spare any time to think about where his father was.

When work eased off, it was a little past one on the afternoon. “Dad didn’t come back.” After knowing that his father disappeared, he was burning with anxiety. Whenever he was available, he would call his father. But what he received was still the failed cold mechanical reply, and finally heard that “the number you dialed is power off”.

“If no one answers the call, I will think nothing bad. But if it is unavailable, I am wondering whether dad falls into water, thus resulting in that the phone has been flooded and doesn’t work.” Zhou Xiaobo first realized that his father might die in the accident.

“Whether dad was on the bus or not, as a rescue team member, it is my duty to search and rescue.” Putting aside the anxiety temporarily, Zhou Xiaobo continued rescue by steamboat with his members.

Afterward, the police contacted Zhou Xiaobo that the surveillance video indicated his father Zhou Daguan got on the bus. He probably didn’t get off, so they asked Zhou Xiaobo to record the DNA information.

In spite of the grief, Zhou Xiaobo kept on his work without a rest. During over four days of rescue, he had never gone home not far away but had been living in the riverside tent. Only when he was alone, could he cry silently. “My father always supports me to join in the rescue team. Even if he did die, I think, he will expect me to perk up.” Zhou Xiaobo said.

Source: Eastday