65-year-old Zhu Hongmei is rushed to a hospital after being saved by rescuers on June 2, 2015. (Photo/Chinanews.com)
(ECNS) -- After being afloat in the Yangtze River for 17 hours, 65-year-old Zhu Hongmei was saved by rescuers while hundreds of her fellow passengers remain missing after their cruise ship overturned on Monday night. [Special coverage]
In a cabin of the capsized ship Eastern Star, divers from Naval University of Engineering found Zhu stranded in a narrow space, taught her how to breathe using a diving helmet, and kept chatting with her to help her relax.
At 12:52 on Tuesday, Zhu finally emerged above water with the help of three divers. About one hour later, she was rushed to the emergency department of the People's Hospital of Jianli county.
Although her skin had turned white and her face looked exhausted, Zhu's life was not in danger, according to doctors. However, she is still worried about the whereabouts of her husband, who is still missing after the disaster.
Zhu said she found an iron bar to knock against the ship, which finally got the attention of rescuers. Both Zhu and her husband are residents of Nanjing city, capital of East China's Jiangsu province.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Zhu on Tuesday afternoon and promised that the government would take care of her. Li also said rescuers will continue their efforts in all earnest to search for and rescue the missing.
Cao Feng, Zhu's son, says his parents boarded the ship in Nanjing to visit Chongqing on May 28. They said that before departing they were getting old and this would be their last trip.
Zhu is yet to be discharged from hospital as she suffers from other chronic illnesses.
