A 36-year-old delivery driver in Hangzhou helped prevent a possible gas explosion after noticing a suspicious smell and reporting it, averting danger for 647 households.
Local authorities in Shangcheng District held a ceremony on Tuesday to praise Yin Zhongyu for his actions, Theirs reported.
The incident happened around noon on Feb. 28 as Yin was delivering food along Qianjiang Road during the lunch rush. Despite being pressed for time, he turned back after detecting a strong gas odor to find out where it was coming from.
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Drivers of the food delivery service Ele.me begin their morning shift after an internal security check in Beijing, China, September 21, 2017. Photo by Reuters |
After speaking with nearby residents and confirming that the leak was coming from an underground gas pipe, Yin contacted police. Firefighters and emergency crews reached the site about five minutes later.
Officials said the leak was severe and posed an immediate risk to 647 households and 20 nearby businesses.
Yin stayed there until authorities arrived, causing him to miss five orders. As a result, both his income and delivery app performance score were affected.
The local Social Work Department later honored him with a commendation certificate, flowers and a rescue kit. After the ceremony, Yin put the flowers in the delivery box of his motorbike and returned to work.
His story adds to a number of cases in China in which delivery workers have stepped in during emergencies. The South China Morning Post previously reported that in August 2025, a delivery driver in Hunan rescued a woman trapped for 20 minutes inside a freezer at minus 20 degrees Celsius after hearing unusual sounds while passing by.
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