A 16-year-old boy in Luzhou, in Southwest China's Sichuan province, saved several people in the heavy flood on July 23, the Jinghua Times reported on July 27.

When the flood began to hit Luzhou on July 22, high school student Ni Peng called three of his classmates to help the residents move things from their homes.

After the flood reached a person's height, he swam and managed to save many trapped people.

He saved a 60-year-old man, who had water up to his neck.

After rescuing the man, he went back into the flood and rescued a 7-year-old child.

"It wasn't a big deal," Ni told the paper. "I'm a good swimmer and I think others would do the same in this kind of situation."

Yu Zhanqin, vice-headmaster of Luzhou No 12 Middle School, which is also being used as a temporary shelter, told the paper that Ni and his classmates have also helped deliver food and blankets to the people affected by the flood and have cleaned mud on the streets.

"We only got about 10 hours' sleep since Sunday, but we don't feel sleepy at all," Ni was quoted as saying by the paper.