Hero captain leaps from the top of his ferry to save drowning woman who fell over the side in Myanmar
- Experienced sailor, U Myint Aye, leaps 40ft from the top of his vessel in Myanmar
- Khin Chan Mya, 34, slipped into the Yangon River as the ship attempted to dock
- Two other crew members helped the captain pull the struggling woman to safety
A heroic ferry captain plunged 40ft into muddy water during the dramatic rescue of a drowning woman.
U Myint Aye hurled himself from the top of his ship after a female passenger slipped into the water as he attempted to dock at the Dala port, near the Pansodan Ferry Terminal on the Yangon River in Myanmar.
The experienced sailor, 60, also managed to steer the ferry away from the edge to avoid crushing the struggling woman during the brave rescue at around 10.30am on February 18.
The captain, along with two other crew helped drag 34-year-old Khin Chan Mya to safety, as a crowd of locals helped pull them up to dry land.
The woman was shocked but still conscious, and rushed straight to the local hospital.
The dramatic moment captain U Myint Aye (top left of picture) launched himself from the top of his ship to save a drowning woman. Khin Chan Mya, 34, fell in as the vessel attempted to dock at the port on the Yangon River in Myanmar
Two other crew members followed their captain into the water and helped drag the woman on to dry land as passengers and bystanders watched
One of the passengers said the woman took a wrong step as the ship approached the port.
‘I saw that she was falling onto the water when the boat reached the pier,’ he said.
Shortly after saving her life, the captain was pictured holding a glass of beer, still wearing the same clothes – alongside his two drenched deck-hands.
The trio later received recognition of their incredible rescue from town officials.
The captain said: ‘At that time I did not think about any risks to my own life.
‘I jumped just because I wanted the woman to be safe. I am old now, it is fine if I die, the young woman should be alive.’
U Myint Aye, (pictured centre), is flanked by two crew members as he toasts his successful rescue
The captain and the crew were also honoured with plaques showing pictures of their rescue.
U Myint Aye said he has worked on ferries for more than 40 years and plans to retire at the end of this year.
He said he lost count of the number of people he has saved from drowning.
He added: ‘I am very proud of myself that I have saved so many lives during my working life.’
The two deck hands and ferry captain, U Myint Aye (pictured right), later received recognition for their bravery from town officials