Sources with the flood control headquarters in Huarong County, Yueyang City, said Tuesday Yan had been keeping watch on the Ouchi River dyke linking the flood-swollen Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River since the river level began rising in mid August.

Yan was about to end his 24-hour watch Monday noon when he heard cries of help from a nearby reservoir. He ran to the reservoir, found three children struggling in water and plunged in.

Fatigue overcame him as he tried to carry the third child to the bank and he sank. When pulled from water by other farmers who had arrived at the scene he was dead.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2002)