Mr. Phan Minh Thang (born 2004, living in Kdang commune, Dak Doa district, Gia Lai, Vietnam) was treated for tiredness at the Mang Yang district Medical Center in Gia Lai province on September 25th.Mr. Thang was successfully rescued the previous afternoon by troops from the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department – CHCN, in partnership with Dak Djrang Commune Police and Mang Yang District Police, after being trapped in floodwaters for nine days.

Mr. Bui Van Son, Director of Mang Yang District Medical Center, reported that patient Phan Minh Thang was admitted owing to exhaustion. Mr. Thang’s health improved after therapy. However, the patient is currently suffering from an intense sore throat and painful feet as a result of being trapped in the middle of the river for an extended period of time.Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu (Mr. Thang’s brother-in-law) reported that Mr. Thang’s mother died unexpectedly and his father disappeared. Thang has lived with Mr. Hieu’s family for about ten years. More than a month ago, Mr. Thang sought assistance in selling coffee for a business in the Mang Yang neighborhood.

Mr. Thang departed home for work on September 16, but did not return by the evening, prompting his family to organize a search. Because they couldn’t find it, the family called the police the next morning. In addition, the family requested assistance from the community through social media posts.The police did not inform Mr. Hieu’s family until yesterday afternoon that they had successfully discovered and brought him ashore while Mr. Thang was trapped in the middle of the river. On September 16, he went to see people fishing on the Ayun River’s mudflats before falling asleep.

The river water suddenly swelled and washed Thang away from the mudflats. Fortunately, Mr. Thang managed to cling to a plant in the middle of the river, becoming trapped there. “I didn’t dare swim to shore back then since the river was so big and fast. To survive, I tried to cling onto tree branches and drink river water. I was frequently fatigued at night since it was so cold and rainy.

I was quite weak. “When I woke up, I was just waiting for someone to pass by so I could shout for help, but there was no one,” Mr. Thang explained. According to Mr. Thang, the limited area was absolutely empty. He didn’t have a phone so he couldn’t call for help.