A young girl has been filmed dropping into a freezing river at a snowy nature spot, before her mum bravely jumped in to save her.
Footage showed the child slipping while trying to cross the river at a narrow point.
But the fast-moving water swept the girl away and her mum leapt in after her.
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They apparently became separated due to the strong currents and extreme temperatures of around -20°C.
Several bystanders then rushed to their aid and managed to drag them onto the icy riverbank.
The rescue took place at the Kanas Scenic Spot in the north-western Chinese region of Xinjiang, bordering Kazakhstan, yesterday (10 Feb).
Local tour guide Deng Zilong said he heard the victims’ screams from inside his car.
Without hesitation, he whipped off his jacket and left his phone on the ground to first help the young girl stranded in the Kanas River.
He explained: “I couldn’t manage on my own, so I called out to a few other people and together we pulled her out.
“They were tourists on a road trip, a mother and daughter.
“They were alright, but they caught a chill.”
He added: “I didn’t think about anything at the time, I just took off my fleece jacket, put my phone down, and rushed to save them.”
Local police confirmed that the victims were mother and daughter and that they apparently ignored warning signs prohibiting visitors from approaching the riverbank.
They said they were still suffering from the effects of the cold water but were otherwise unharmed.
The mother lost her car keys while stranded in the freezing water, as reported by Need To Know.
A spokesperson for the Kanas Scenic Spot stated that they entered a restricted area to take photos by the river.
They added: “Warning signs and safety reminders are posted in all dangerous areas within the scenic area.
“Please consciously improve your awareness of safe tourism, abide by the scenic area’s regulations, do not approach dangerous areas, and do not enter undeveloped or closed zones.”
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