China experienced a devastating earthquake in 1997. Chung Wai’s workplace, a coal mine, was located dangerously close to the epicentre. Of the 200 miners, only 51 were rescued; the rest perished because they were too far underground to be reached. The search was called off after a while. Because he was near a reinforced ventilation shaft at the time of the impact, this man was the only one to survive.

Most of his comrades were killed instantaneously when the building they were in collapsed. He reportedly made it because he had access to emergency supplies stored in a secret location.The miner, who somehow made it out alive, eventually started eating insects and rodents. The mine was decontaminated a few years ago at the insistence of local authorities.

What a shock it must have been to discover a weary man hiding out in a tunnel. The man’s emotional state was more of a concern to rescuers than his physical condition. However, his determination to live was honored. Chung Wai indicated that he was confident in his eventual discovery. He was determined to go away and keep on living, so he worked out regularly, entertained himself with music, and ate healthily.

He had long since lost count of time and was increasingly spending it napping. The story of Chung Wai’s rescue struck a chord. The top medical minds in China are working on a solution to help him get well. The miner’s family was taken aback by his miraculous resuscitation, but they have since accepted his death. The man must now adapt to a world that has changed significantly over the past 17 years, and doing so will not be easy.