Young man honored for saving drowning girl in strong tides

The rescue lasted about three minutes, during which Lin's heroism was evident as he battled the strong currents.

"I started learning how to swim at a young age since my hometown has many rivers. So I'm fairly good at swimming," Lin said.

Lin used to serve in the military and is now a photographer. The incident occurred while he was on a photo-shooting tour in Hainan.

After the video went viral, with many praising his bravery, Lin modestly responded, "I just did what I should do to save the girl. It is a natural instinct to help others".