Thirty thousand people from all walks of life in city Jinhua went to a local funeral home with chrysanthemums in hand on Tuesday to pay tribute and say good-bye to a hero who died saving the life of another.

The hero, Meng Xiangbin, is a twenty-eight-year-old lieutenant serving in a local unit of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

On the morning of November 30, Meng, who was having a week-long holiday, brought his wife and daughter shopping in downtown Jinhua. As they were walking along, Meng heard voices of "Help! Help!" coming over from a nearby bridge.

Although he was dragged behind a bit by his wife who was holding their daughter in arms, Meng still raced over to the bridge without hesitation and dived into the city's icy river from the 10 meter high bridge as he saw a girl jumped into the river to commit suicide.

Meng took all his strength and swam as quickly as possible over to the girl in the stinging icy river, which soaked through completely his winter clothes he had on him. Almost out of breath, Meng finally raised the girl onto a steam-boat which was rushed over to save them, but Meng was too tired to come up, disappearing in the end in the chilly river.

It was until the same afternoon that Meng's body was found along the river near the bridge.

Following the tragedy, many local citizens came to lay wreaths and flowers along the bridge, showing their deep mourning and respect to the dead hero. Ad billboards along the city's streets were also changed to the portraits of Meng Xiangbin.

The local PLA garrison granted Meng the honorable title of Revolutionary Martyr. And the city of Jinhua awarded him the Most Brave Citizen.

So far, local citizens have also donated over 500,000 RMB for Meng's family.

Thirty thousand people from all walks of life in city Jinhua on Tuesday say good-bye to Meng Xiangbin who died saving the life of another, December 4, 2007. [Photo: Xinhua]

Thirty thousand people from all walks of life in city Jinhua on Tuesday say good-bye to Meng Xiangbin who died saving the life of another, December 4, 2007. [Photo: Xinhua]

People from all walks of life in city Jinhua on Tuesday say good-bye to Meng Xiangbin who died saving the life of another, December 4, 2007. [Photo: Xinhua]

Thirty thousand people from all walks of life in city Jinhua on Tuesday say good-bye to Meng Xiangbin who died saving the life of another, December 4, 2007. [Photo: Xinhua]

Soldiers carry the coffin of Meng Xiangbin to the funeral home on Tuesday, December 4, 2007. [Photo: jhnews.com.cn]

File Photo of Meng Xiangbin. [Photo: jhnews.com.cn]

Meng Xiangbin's wife and his daughter. [Photo: jhnews.com.cn]

A little boy donates for Meng's family, December 1, 2007. [Photo: jhnews.com.cn]

(CRI December 5, 2007)