Filipino saves man in Saudi Arabia during flood, receives honor

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A Filipino man received an honor for wading through a flood to rescue an elderly man trapped in his car.

Dawood S. Balindong, 37, is a driver who was recognized by the Okaz Organization for Press and Publications for his rescue effort in Jeddah, reports the Saudi Gazette.

A viral video shows that after heavy rainfall in the city, a Saudi Arabian man was left in his car in the middle of a waist-deep flood.

“Some people tried to deter me from swimming to reach the man in distress. They kept shouting that the Civil Defense would soon come to save him but I did not heed their calls,” he said in the report.

After providing a life vest, Balindong waded through the flood while carrying the man.

Although the flood was not extremely high, civilians may have feared being electrocuted by underground cables.

Two Civil Defense staff were present but did not take action. The Civil defense has issued an apology and stated that there would be disciplinary action against the staff.

Balindong hails from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur. He has been working in Saudi Arabia for over a year.

On receiving the award, he said he didn’t expect to be commended for his action. “I could not stand watching a man drowning without doing anything to save him and there was no time to think of death.” Niña V. Guno/JB

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