In fact, the couple cannot remember exactly how many times they dropped everything to jump into the river to save people.

Phuc said her family of seven members used to live on a small fishing boat on the Lam River. Although life was full of hardships, whenever they received a call saying “someone jumped off the bridge,” the couple would immediately stop what they were doing and drive their boat out to rescue people.

That little boat was not only their livelihood but also the vessel that carried them into dangerous waters to give others a chance to live.

Many years ago, their acts of saving lives on the Lam river earned the local community's trust, allowing the couple to borrow a piece of land to build a temporary house in Truong Vinh ward. The small house sits right by the Lam River, with Ben Thuy Bridge towering above, a place where many people in despair have chosen to end their lives.

Phuc shared: “I don't understand why so many people choose Ben Thuy bridge as the place to end their lives. Every time someone jumps, my husband, the rescue forces, and I struggle greatly with the search. In October alone, my family rescued 4 cases.”

These included a 52-year-old man upset with his wife; a 15-year-old boy arguing with his mother; a 13-year-old girl having conflict with friends; and an 18-year-old boy who jumped after a personal dispute.

Phuc still remembers clearly the night of October 4. When they heard someone jumped from Ben Thuy 2 Bridge, about one kilometer from their house, the couple hurriedly rowed into the strong currents.

Just minutes later, they spotted a 13-year-old girl struggling in the freezing water. When they pulled her ashore, Phuc was shivering and soaked. She gently scolded the girl: “Whatever the problem is, there is always another solution. Why would you risk your life like this?”

After bringing the girl to safety, they contacted her family to take her home.

Having grown up on the river with her parents, Phuc cannot remember when she started “stealing back lives from the river god.” All she knows is that in nearly two decades, she and her husband have saved about 50 people. Each person carried a sad story, a breaking point that drove them to seek death.

“No one questions them harshly. We just speak softly, hoping that after returning from the brink, they will be stronger in their lives,” she said.

However, not every attempt ends in success. When recalling the case of a father who jumped with his two small daughters, the couple fell silent. That night, the water level was high and the undercurrents were fierce. They searched the river all night but found no signs of life.

“It is heartbreaking that we couldn’t save the three of them,” Phuc said.

Doing good deeds to accumulate blessings

In the fishing community, saving drowning people is often something many are hesitant about due to the belief of “stealing food from the river god.” Dau Thi Phuc and her husband have heard that words many times, especially when their boat was constantly broken or their fishing nets were torn.

“Seeing someone about to die and turning your back? I can't do that. We can suffer a little loss ourselves, as long as our conscience is clear,” Dau Thi Phuc confided.

Over the past few decades, the greatest comfort for her on this rescue journey is that occasionally, people the couple saved return to visit their family.

One story that still haunts her is the rescue of a pregnant university student who jumped into the river in despair. The couple saved the young woman, but the unborn child could not be saved.

“She is a teacher now. Whenever our family faces difficulties, she visits and encourages us. We don’t help people to be remembered, we do it to accumulate blessings for our children and grandchildren. But when someone still remembers what we did, it warms my heart,” Phuc shared.

However, not everyone they saved comes back with gratitude.

“In October, we saved an 18-year-old boy who jumped. As soon as he got on shore, he cursed and shouted, ‘Why did you save me? I’ll get a gun and come back to shoot you.’ But we didn’t blame him. In moments of despair, people may say things they don’t mean,” Phuc recalled.

Ha Nguyen