A heroic 88-year-old retired soldier jumped into a river to rescue a 19-month-old boy in Mianyang City in southern China's Sichuan Province.

In the video, filmed on March 21, a man is seen trying to pull the elderly man named He Youyi out of the river while He is trying to take the boy's bike onto the river bank.

Then more villagers join to help He get back onto dry land.

According to local news, He threw himself into the river to save a boy who fell into it accidentally when he was riding a bike nearby.

The boy was rescued earlier and handed over to his grandmother, reports said.

“I only did what I could,” He Youyi said. “If I die, it is not a big deal, but this should not happen to a child, who is our descendant, the nation's descendant.”

A heroic 88-year-old retired soldier jumped into a river to rescue a 19-month-old boy in Mianyang City in southern China's Sichuan Province.