Captain leaps 40ft from ship to save drowning passenger who fell overboard

Incredible pictures show the moment a captain jumped from his ship fully-dressed to rescue a drowning woman.

Sailor U Myint Aye, 60, had been steering the boat into Dala port on the Yangon River in Burma when passenger Khin Chan Mya, 34, fell into the water on February 18.

He then steered away from the edge to avoid crushing the woman, before leaping 40ft from the top of the ship in a bid to save her.

Photos show him flying through the air as others in the harbour frantically rush to Khin Chan Mya’s aid.

U Myint Aye, along with two other crew members, pulled her from the water around 10.34am.



She was described as being ‘shocked but conscious’ and was then rushed to hospital.

One of the passengers said Khin Chan Mya, from Mon State, had taken a wrong step while the ship was approaching the port.

U Myint Aye, later photographed drinking a pint next to two soaked crew members, 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.’

The captain has worked on ferries for more than 40 years and plans to retire this year.


He and the crew received plaques showing the rescue from town officials, who praised their quick action.

U Myint Aye said he had lost count of the number of people he has saved from drowning.

He noted: ‘I am very proud of myself that I have saved so many lives during my working life.’

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