Teacher's heroics all a lie
By Zhang Xuanchen |
October 23, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EMBARRASSMENT looms for the family of a teacher who reportedly sacrificed his life to save four students in the Sichuan earthquake after one survivor admitted the whole story was fabricated.
Liu Hongli, 18, said her survival had nothing to do with Tan Qianqiu, who didn't have time to reach them when their school in Hanwang Township collapsed during the earthquake on May 12, 2008.
Two of the four surviving students, who were said to have been covered by Tan as rocks fell on them, never existed while the other "survivor" actually died in the quake, Shanghai Morning Post reported yesterday.
Liu said she was confused when a Hong Kong journalist asked her to say something about Tan, who was their politics teacher, after she woke up in hospital. She then made up the story without realizing what would happen.
The story generated headlines across the country. Tears were shed across China after the rescue team dug out Tan's body, arms open, from under a teacher's desk, which was described by the media report as a selfless attempt to protect the students who didn't flee classroom falling from the fourth floor in time.
A bronze statue was set up in memory of Tan. Liu said her whole class laughed about the report because they all knew it was false.
Liu Hongli, 18, said her survival had nothing to do with Tan Qianqiu, who didn't have time to reach them when their school in Hanwang Township collapsed during the earthquake on May 12, 2008.
Two of the four surviving students, who were said to have been covered by Tan as rocks fell on them, never existed while the other "survivor" actually died in the quake, Shanghai Morning Post reported yesterday.
Liu said she was confused when a Hong Kong journalist asked her to say something about Tan, who was their politics teacher, after she woke up in hospital. She then made up the story without realizing what would happen.
The story generated headlines across the country. Tears were shed across China after the rescue team dug out Tan's body, arms open, from under a teacher's desk, which was described by the media report as a selfless attempt to protect the students who didn't flee classroom falling from the fourth floor in time.
A bronze statue was set up in memory of Tan. Liu said her whole class laughed about the report because they all knew it was false.
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