Being a hero is an ideal that many people aspire to follow. Whether it’s through small acts of kindness, or through big gestures for the sake of others, there is always something within us that pushes us to be selfless.
Our generation has taken this idea to the next level with our admiration for superheroes, fictional characters with exceptional abilities whose goals are to help as many people as possible. One of the foremost architects of the modern superhero age, Stan Lee, once defined a superhero as “That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do.”
In this edition of SEAtizens, we highlight the incredible story of Paw Myar, a courageous 12-year-old boy from Myanmar, whose extraordinary actions in a moment of crisis saved hundreds of lives.
Photo from Reuters
This past September, several Southeast Asian countries were ravaged by disastrous floods brought on by Typhoon Yagi. Myanmar was one of the most severely affected with an estimated 384 people perishing and as many as 887,000 people being affected by the typhoon and the aftermath.
However, In the village of Aung Thukha in Central Myanmar, countless lives were saved thanks to the heroic actions of a 12-year-old boy.
As a son of a local fisherman, Paw Myar was adept at swimming and was already familiar with how to operate a motorboat. Despite the severity of the situation, Paw Myar set sail on a motorized canoe that could barely fit five people. Using his skills and knowhow, Paw Myar bravely rescued a handful of people at a time, eventually saving over a hundred people from his community.
“Although many adults were present and could operate a motorboat, none knew how to navigate it in such an emergency,” said Ngwe Hlaing, who was one of the many rescued by Paw Myar.
Photo from News1
While homes were being swept away by Typhoon Yagi, Paw Myar worked tirelessly against the waves of the rushing floods to rescue and evacuate the people of his village. He even carried some of them by piggyback to bring them to safety. “I rescued many elders and other people by myself, both at night and during the day, and it brought me great joy to see them safe,” the boy said in an interview.
Heroes can come in all shapes and sizes, but the most important trait that all heroes have is that they arrive when you need them the most. While the typhoon has long since passed, Paw Myar remains enthusiastic in helping the people around him and dreams of one day becoming a doctor, saying “I want to save many people’s lives.”
SEA Wave Magazine’s SEAtizens initiative is a series of inspiring stories of people in Southeast Asia who champion the human spirit by demonstrating courage, ingenuity, generosity, and selflessness.
For more Southeast Asian stories and stories about SEAtizens all around the world, visit seawavemag.com.