Construction Site Manager Swept Away by Flood in Matai'an River Rescued, Hospitalized with Brain Hemorrhage

(Central News Agency reporter Li Xianfeng, Hualien County, 9th) The Matai'an River swelled due to heavy rain. A construction site manager surnamed Deng was swept away, vehicle and all, by the torrent. He was rescued this morning by police, volunteer firefighters, and indigenous tribe members and sent to the hospital. The hospital reported that he suffered a blow to the head, resulting in a mild brain hemorrhage, and is currently hospitalized for observation. Rescuers said he was fortunate that his head was resting on a piece of wood.

Dr. Xu Ziheng, Director of the Emergency and Disaster Medicine Department at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, told the media that when Mr. Deng was brought in by ambulance, he had abrasions and contusions and was covered in dirty water and mud. After cleaning him up and conducting a thorough examination, they found he had suffered a blow to the head, resulting in a mild brain hemorrhage. A neurosurgeon was consulted, and he is currently hospitalized for observation.

Dr. Xu said that Mr. Deng had a low body temperature when he arrived, but after rewarming treatment, his temperature returned to normal. He appears to be very fortunate and not in life-threatening danger, but he still needs to be hospitalized for observation and treatment. His condition is currently stable; he is conscious and his vital signs are stable.

Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital explained that Mr. Deng has no obvious external injuries, but the brain hemorrhage requires continuous observation, and he should not be disturbed for now. Additionally, Mr. Deng requested confidentiality for his personal information upon admission, and it cannot be disclosed without his consent.

The Matai'an River swelled due to days of heavy rain. Mr. Deng, the construction site manager contracted for sand-control works by the Hualien Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, went with two excavator operators yesterday to move the excavators to higher ground. They were suspected to have been swept away by the flood and lost contact. Mr. Deng's two daughters went to the riverbank yesterday to call out and pray for their father's safety but declined to be interviewed.

An excavator operator said that at the time of the incident, he was driving the excavator in front, and Mr. Deng was driving a jeep behind, both traveling upstream on the riverbed. Suddenly, a torrent of floodwater rushed down from upstream. He turned around and saw the jeep being swept away, so he immediately reported it for rescue.

"He's really lucky to be alive!" said a member of the Truku tribe who participated in the rescue. When they found Mr. Deng, his head was resting on a piece of wood as he lay on his back, his body stuck in the mud and unable to move. It is believed that he was rolled 9 kilometers downstream by the flood to the riverbed in the Ataomo section. As the floodwaters receded, he became trapped in the mud and was fortunate to be rescued after calling for help. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150609