A heroic 19-year-old technician is in a critical condition in hospital after saving the life of his apprentice and stopping a gasoline-fuelled explosion at his factory.
Xiao Genquan, from Jiangxi Province, a generator repairer for Shanghai Shuangyi Automobile Co Ltd in an industrial zone in Qingpu District, received burns to 90 percent of his body for his selfless act on September 25.
Peng Yanqiang, assistant to general manager of the company, said a worker from a different department entered Xiao's workshop on September 25 and lit a lighter beside Xiao's apprentice, who was washing a generator with hands covered in gasoline.
"The apprentice's hands caught fire immediately," Peng said.
"So Xiao kicked a bucket containing 16 liters of gasoline out the door to prevent an explosion in the workshop and saved his apprentice from further injury."
In the process, Xiao was covered with gasoline from the bucket, which  caught fire, but a potentially more deadly blaze in the factory was prevented.
Police have detained the man who sparked the lighter.
"The worker is an acquaintance to the two who were injured. He's a non-smoker and it's unclear why he clicked the cigarette lighter," said Peng.
The 60 workers and company officials were so impressed with Xiao's bravery, and they went straight to the hospital to donate blood for his emergency operations.
The company has already spent 400,000 yuan (US$48,193) on Xiao's medical bill and the hospital claims it will need at least another 600,000 yuan to carry on his treatment for the next 37 days.
Xiao has regained consciousness but is still in a critical condition.
"Burns cover more than 90 percent of his body and patients with such extensive injuries only have a 60 percent chance of survival," said Dr Xiang Jun from Ruijin Hospital.
As Xiao fights for his life, his small company and fellow workers are battling to keep afloat after paying the huge medical bill.
Daily operations have been cut in half due to cash flow problems.
"We are saving Xiao's life even at the cost of bankruptcy of the company," said a company official yesterday.