Kept busy saving lives round the clock in quake-hit Qingchuan county in Sichuan province, firefighter Lang Meng had only 18 minutes to marry Chang Fang yesterday morning -- 2,000 km away.

Lang tied the knot in the brief ceremony with his 26-year-old bride in Shenyang, Liaoning province, via a video link.

Firefighter Lang Meng (right) talks to his bride Chang Fang via the Internet from Qingchuan, Sichuan province. [Photo: Xinhua News Agency]

When Chang stepped onto the red carpet in Shenyang, the absent bridegroom from the city's fire brigade appeared on a big screen and the two exchanged vows, witnessed by their families, friends and colleagues.

Many were moved to tears when Lang's mother put the wedding ring on the bride's finger for him.

"I am fine. I will do my best, I promise. I love you," Lang said before the camera.

After the wedding, he resumed the rescue work with hundreds of firemen from all over the nation.

After 18 minutes' connection, the Internet broke down and Lang disappeared from the screen.

"As fireman, it is his duty. Today, I am not lonely," Chang said.

Lang and Chang got engaged early this year and has been planning the wedding for half a year. "It is not easy to apply for work leave as both of us are too busy to date," said Chang, who is also an officer with the fire brigade.

Their wedding leave application was approved earlier this month. But Lang received news of the earthquake in Sichuan and he volunteered to join the rescue team.

"We thought about postponing the wedding. But since we have informed all the relatives and friends, I made the final decision to carry on as planned," the bride said.

(China Daily May 18, 2008)