China ultramarathon kills 21, turns hero into shepherd who saved six lives

A shepherd was hailed as a hero in China after learning that rescued six runners injured in an ultramarathon in which 21 other competitors were killed.

Zhu Keming’s name was trending on Weibo – the Chinese Facebook – on Tuesday, three days after a 100-kilometer cross-country mountain race in northwestern Gansu province became a deadly challenge in freezing rain that brought high winds and hail to the circuit.

The fatal incident sparked days of mourning in China and deep indignation that called out to organizers of the ultramarathon for apparently ignoring warnings of extreme weather conditions looming during the race.

At the time of the marathon on Saturday around noon, Zhu was grazing his sheep when the strong wind hit and temperatures dropped. He quickly took refuge in a cave where he had stored clothes and food for emergencies, but as he took cover he saw one of the 172 ultramarathon competitors stop after suffering a severe cramp.

Zhu escorted the man to the cave, massaged his icy hands and feet, made a fire, and dried his clothes.

Four other runners came to the cave in distress and told the pastor that others were left outside, some unconscious.

Zhu walked outside once more and, braving the hail and freezing temperatures, caught up with a hallway lying on the ground.. She drove him to the shelter and wrapped him in blankets, almost certainly saving his life.

“I mean how grateful I am to the man who saved me.” the broker, Zhang Xiaotao, wrote on Weibo.

“Without him, I would have stayed there”, added.

Zhu was praised in China for his selfless actions, but the pastor told state media he was “just an ordinary person who did something very ordinary”.

This pastor saved three men and three women, but regrets not being able to do more to help others who have succumbed to hypothermia.

“There were still people who couldn’t save themselves,” He said. “There were two lifeless men and there was nothing I could do for them. Sorry.”

The tragedy once again shed light on China’s burgeoning marathon and running market, and authorities have ordered event planners to improve safety.

According to the Shanghai newspaper, for dates close to the deadly ultramarathon, five other cross-country, marathon or similar races have been canceled on short notice.

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