Wenchuan Earthquake 10 Years On: Human spirit rose to occasion in coping with tragedy

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02:58

As pictures of devastated cities shocked and broke many hearts, kindness, faith and sense of duty kept people's spirits high. Here are some heroic figures and their stories.

Jiang Min was an officer at the Pengzhou City Police Department when the quake hit her hometown Beichuan, the epicenter. She worked non-stop for days with local search and rescue teams, though she had just lost ten family members.

"How long have you been working shifts?"

"Since the 12th."

"How long do you work everyday?"

"I haven't slept much since the quake. Almost no rest. Only quick naps."

"You've been struggling."

"Yes. "

"I heard you have had some bad news from home."

"Yes. My parents and my daughter. They're gone."

Jiang received the highest award for police officers for her services. She remains on the force after the quake. Today, she lives in Chengdu with her husband. Their son was born in 2012.

Lin Hao, nine at the time of the quake, was called the youngest Wenchuan hero. He was trapped under a school building with his classmates for two hours before managing to get out. He then returned to the collapsed building and pulled out two students.

LIN HAO "I was in the hallway and the building fell. Two classmates were on me. I crawled and crawled until I got out. And then I pulled them out. He passed out so I carried him."

"Were you able to carry him?"

"Yes."

When asked about why he returned to the building instead of running. Lin simply said, because I am the class monitor. He was the flag carrier at the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. In 2013, he launched his own charity foundation.

Lang Zheng, or the saluting boy as many call him, was three when the quake shattered his home. He was buried under debris for more than 20 hours before soldiers pulled him out.

Lying on a stretcher, barely breathing from dehydration and hunger, he raised his uninjured arm and did a boy scout salute to his rescuers.

Many quake victims say the salute symbolized their deepest appreciation to soldiers, police officers, firefighters, doctors, and volunteers they never got to thank in person. A salute to the strangers who did not give up on them and to every bit of kindness people show in face of tragedy.