SHANGHAI, Sep. 4 -- A LOCAL middle school teacher has returned home a hero after saving a man from drowning while he was studying in England this summer.

Wang Guangzhuan, a 32-year-old physical education teacher at Shanghai Jing'an Education College Affiliated School, was honored by the mayor of Ramsgate for his bravery in saving a Pakistani man from drowning while boating on the River Cam in Cambridge.

He has also been listed as a candidate for the country's top award for people who help others, school officials revealed yesterday.

Wang, with a group of teachers from Jing'an District, was taking an eight-week English language training program at Churchill House in Ramsgate when the boat accident occurred on July 7.

When the group was punting in Cambridge, Wang's punt suddenly hit another boat and both Wang and the Pakistani man fell into the water.

Being a confident swimmer, Wang quickly made it back to his punt but found his fellow was in difficulty and shouting out for help.

"I didn't give a second thought at that time before I jumped into the water again," Wang told Shanghai Daily.

"It was just a tiny thing that I should do," he added.

Wang grabbed the unconscious victim and supported him back into the punt, according to Zhang Qiong, leader of the teacher group.

Wang's rescue was hailed by British officials and local media. The Thanet Times, the local newspaper, gave a quarter-page of coverage to Wang's story.

Churchill House also sent a letter paying tribute to Wang's courage to the Jing'an District Education Bureau.

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