Diver Guan Dong at the site. [Photo/Xiong Feng]

Three rescue divers have been awarded at the bank of Yangtze River near the ship sinking site by Naval University of Engineering, PLA because of their excellence in the operation.

Diver Guan Dong was the first to go under the water. He found an old woman in the cabin and helped her put on the diving gear. Twenty minutes later, the woman was successfully rescued. Later he found another person, but the survivor was too shocked to even move. Guan stayed there with him and eased his mind by talking with him. Later Guan took off his own diving gear and gave it to the man and helped him with two other divers.

Guan was awarded the first-class merit.

The other two divers Xie Qifeng and Shi Baiyan were awarded second and third-class merit for salvaging victims.