Driver always ready to deliver life-saving care

Delivery driver Zhang Baojian's electric bike carries two boxes, one for meals and the other for emergencies, which he used to save a senior woman's life last month.

Zhang, 34, an employee of food delivery platform Ele.me in Wuhan, Hubei province, was delivering an order on March 25 when he encountered a 70-year-old woman who had been hit by a car.

Lying face down with her head bleeding, the senior victim had fallen unconscious. Zhang immediately pulled over and rushed to administer first aid.

"I've received first-aid training. At that moment, I rushed to help without hesitation, because all that mattered was saving her life," he said.

Zhang tapped her shoulders and placed his fingers near her nose, detecting only faint breathing. Fearing she might choke, he used his hands to clear foam from her mouth.

When the ambulance arrived, Zhang helped paramedics lift her into the vehicle.

As the woman's injuries were severe, doctors needed to notify her family but had no contact information. Zhang found the woman's identification card in her purse and immediately rode his e-bike to the address on the card. There, he found the woman's daughter, surnamed Liang, and accompanied her to the hospital.

Zhang left the hospital after handing over the woman's personal belongings to Liang.

To express her gratitude, Liang transferred him 888 yuan ($121) through WeChat. But Zhang firmly declined the offer and said, "I didn't help for money — I simply did what I should do."

Zhang, originally from Huludao, Liaoning province, moved to Wuhan in 2011 after retiring from the army.

He worked as a security guard and engaged in fruit transport before joining the food delivery industry in 2019. Over the years, he didn't buy a car or an apartment like most people would, but devoted himself to public welfare.

"Those two years in the army taught me resilience, responsibility and duty," said Zhang. "A soldier's commitment doesn't end with service — whenever people need help, we must step forward."

As he rides through streets and alleys every day, Zhang frequently encounters injured or sick people. To provide timely assistance, he learned first-aid skills and earned the Red Cross first aid instructor certificate and the American Heart Association Heartsaver certificate.

Over the past six years, he has aided over 100 people with his first-aid kit.

Upon learning of Zhang's rescue of the elderly woman, Ele.me awarded him the title "Community Hero" along with a 10,000-yuan cash reward.

Hu Xiaoyong, general manager of Ele.me's Hubei logistics division, said the delivery platform has established a liability exemption to encourage riders to assist in emergency situations within their capabilities while ensuring their own safety.

"If riders have to delay their deliveries or receive complaints due to good deeds in handling emergencies, we will exempt them from penalties," he said.

In addition to Ele.me's reward, Alibaba Philanthropy also awarded Zhang 5,000 yuan. Zhang said he plans to contribute all the money for public welfare causes.

"As for the future, my goal is simple: to teach more delivery riders first-aid skills," he said.

Contact the writers at pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn