Since she rescued the first drowning person at the age of 17, Wu Yongxiu has never stopped saving lives. Over the past 40 years, she has saved 24 lives in water by putting her own life in danger many times.

For her good deeds, Wu was honored as a national moral model on Oct. 13, 2015.

Wu lives in a village in southwest China's Chengdu city. The Dongfeng Canal passes in front of her home. Growing up near the water, Wu swims like a fish. The canal that Wu loves and hates at the same time engulfs lives every year.

At the age of 17, Wu, who was still a high school student, jumped into the Dongfeng Canal and saved a drowning person for the first time in her life. In the next 40 years, Wu rescued 24 drowning lives. People called her "Wonder Woman".

In Wu's village, a couple was fleeced of over 100,000 yuan in 2001. Unable to bear the blow, the couple jumped into the Dongfeng Canal to commit suicide. Wu rushed into the scene, and put every effort to save the couple.

"She gave us a second life. We must live for a better one," said Chen, one of the couple. Encouraged by Wu, the couple continued to work hard to make money. Their life has been gradually improved.

"Not everyone is grateful to what I did," said Wu. In a cold winter night, she jumped into the river and saved a drowning man. Instead of saying thanks, the man was very inconsistent to the rescue. Wu talked with him a whole night till the person's emotions stabilized. "Since I saved him, I won't let him commit suicide again," Wu said.

Now Wu is already 58 years old. Her physical strength is not as good as in the past. However she just rescued a suicidal woman last month. "Saving life is a decision taken in a moment, without the slightest hesitation and fear," Wu said. "Saving life is a mission of my life, and I am ready to give my life to it."