A wave of sympathy streamed across China for a teacher who protected several of her students from a speeding car and died on Tuesday morning in Jintan, eastern Jiangsu Province.
The local government has called on residents of the city to learn from the heroic teacher and will recognize her as a martyr, it was reported yesterday.
Yin Xuemei, who was taking the students out to the cinema on March 30, pushed the youngsters out of the way but was hit and thrown about 25 meters by the speeding car.
The 52-year-old teacher was taken to Jintan People's Hospital 10 minutes after the accident but remained in a coma until her death on Tuesday morning.
Twelve doctors worked together to save her life.
"She was very badly injured with a serious brain hemorrhage, bad fractures in the leg and chest and internal bleeding. We are so sorry we could not help her," said Li Guoming, director of the hospital's intensive care unit.
Yin was a second grade teacher at Chengnan Elementary School. She had taught there for nearly 30 years. When students at the school were told of the news, many burst into tears.
The pupils Yin protected and their parents were extremely sad, with the children expressing their gratitude to the teacher for saving their lives.
"She was an excellent teacher and we all feel very sad that she has left us so suddenly," said Yuan Wenbin, one of Yin's colleagues.
Yuan said that many people from other cities had telephoned when they learned of Yin's heroic deeds. They expressed a wish to donate money.
The school set up a special mourning hall so students and thousands of local residents could pay their last tributes to Yin.
The driver of the car that hit Yin was in custody on Tuesday night.