THE start of May 22 was like any other for Zhu Keming, a shepherd in Jingtai County in Gansu Province whose daily routine includes grazing a flock of 30 sheep on the mountain. But hours later, he unintentionally became a hero after saving six runners in the rugged province’s 100-kilometer mountain ultramarathon. A total of 21 runners were killed after hail, freezing rain and high winds hit the race.

The six lucky ones are among the 151 who escaped death out of 172 runners caught by the storm in the Yellow River Stone Forest Park in Baiyin City. The other 21 runners “already had no vital signs” when they were found.

“It is not a big deal. Anyone would have done the same thing as I did. Life matters,” Zhu told Beijing News.

He was taking shelter from the rain in a cave dwelling near Zhujiayao when he heard an indistinct shout coming from outside at about 2 p.m. Saturday.

“It was very misty and cold that day. That cave is the place where I always take a rest while herding the sheep. I keep some daily supplies there, such as quilts,” he said.      (Continued on P4)