Heroic Chinese Teen Rescues Elderly Couple from Burning Apartment While in Underwear

A heroic 18-year-old Chinese student has gained local fame after bravely rescuing an elderly couple from a burning apartment while wearing only his underwear. Zhu Ye, a senior at Tongliang No. 2 Secondary School in Chongqing, rushed to his neighbors' flat when he noticed the fire on October 16, not taking time to dress properly.

Upon entering the smoke-filled apartment, Zhu discovered an elderly couple in imminent danger. The fire had started when the battery of the elderly man's electric wheelchair exploded. The elderly woman, who shares the surname Zhu, was unaware that her legs had caught fire in the chaos.

Demonstrating remarkable composure, Zhu guided the couple to safety, disconnected the wheelchair's battery, and carried buckets of water from his own home to put out the flames. After extinguishing the fire, he contacted security guards who helped clean the couple's apartment.

The elderly couple initially kept the incident secret from their daughter to prevent her from worrying. However, security personnel informed her the following day. Their daughter, Ms. Jiang, expressed regret for not being present during the emergency but conveyed profound gratitude toward Zhu for saving her parents' lives.

Showing her appreciation, Ms. Jiang visited Zhu's school with gifts of fruit and milk. She expressed such admiration for his courage that she remarked if she had a daughter, she would have wanted Zhu as her son-in-law.

Despite acknowledging his fear during the incident, Zhu explained that he relied on quick decision-making and emergency safety techniques learned at school. His teacher mentioned that this selfless act was consistent with Zhu's character, as he regularly assists his classmates. Beyond his bravery, Zhu has also distinguished himself as an accomplished badminton player, winning the district championship for two consecutive years.

Following this courageous rescue in his underwear, Zhu has affectionately become known throughout the community as "Underpants Man."