INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – A six-year old Japanese boy who fell into the sea was saved by a 26-year-old foreign technical intern from the Philippines on June 16.
According to a report by Livedoor News, the boy was not wearing a life jacket and fell into Hakozaki-futou in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City.
READ: Eating, sightseeing in Fukuoka with family
“But a Filipino man, a technical intern, jumped into the sea and helped [him]. [B]oth of them were not injured,” the report reads, adding that the Filipino intern was fishing nearby, making him able to spot the incident quickly.
It added that if the man had not helped, the child’s life might have been placed at risk—or the incident “might have been a big deal.”
As reported, it is said that the boy’s parents asked the Filipino for his name and offered a reward, but the 26-year-old intern simply said that he is “not anyone important” and “went home.”
The article on Livedoor News noted that the incident transpired at a popular fishing spot near Hakozaki Fishing Port, about 3.5 kilometers northwest of JR Hakata Station.
For his part, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya hailed the Filipino intern’s act.
“Heroism knows no boundaries. A story of a true Bayaning Filipino in Fukuowa who selflessly saved a young boy from the sea. His selfishness and bravery inspire us all,” said Kazuya in a tweet.