Officials from Qingpu District's Xujing Township honored a migrant worker from Anhui Province for his bravery in helping a woman fight against an armed robber, Qingpu District police announced yesterday.
The suspect allegedly stabbed both Zhang Yi and the woman with a knife during the robbery.
The suspect, a 19-year-old from Shaanxi Province, whom police would only identify by his surname Huang, drowned after diving into a river to escape pursuit, said Lei Jianguang, a spokesman for the Qingpu District police.
The woman, surnamed Guan, who lives in the town, was allegedly attacked from behind by the robber at 10:20pm on August 29.
Huang allegedly clutched the woman's throat and threatened her with a 30-centimeter-long knife.
He grabbed Guan's purse and her right ring finger was broken while she struggled to take her property back, police said.
The woman cried for help while running after the thief.
Zhang Yi helped the woman trace him after hearing her cries for help.
When Zhang caught up with the thief, Huang stabbed him in the head.
Huang jumped into a nearby river in a hurry to escape and drowned before police arrived.
"I just did what everyone else would do under the circumstances," Zhang said.