Lin Jiatai, a young man from Jieyang, Guangdong province, was recognized and awarded for his bravery after risking his life going against big waves to rescue a drowning girl in the coastal Hainan province.

A video clip published by CCTV News showed that on Jan 30, at the beach near a scenic spot in Hainan, a little girl was swept away by strong waves, with her mother also being pulled into the water while trying to save her.

A young man in white (later identified as Lin) can be seen in the video quickly rescuing the mother and repeatedly trying to reach the girl despite being pushed back by the strong tides.

Lin didn't give up and persisted until a less powerful wave gave him the chance to grab hold of the girl. He, along with other helpers, successfully pulled the girl back to safety.