Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Yu Yifei, a 26-year-old doctor and supporter of the soccer team, for saving the lives of dozens of subway passengers in Zhengzhou, Henan province, amid the deluge that hit the provincial capital late last month.
"Well done young hero! We hope you all stay safe," Solskjaer said in a video released on Monday on Manchester United's official Sina Weibo account.
He also expressed concerns about the flooding in Henan.
"We are stunned by the horrendous flooding hitting Henan province and would like to send our love and blessings to all the people affected," he added.
As a medical intern at the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Yu gave CPR to passengers who had been evacuated from a subway train inundated with floodwater on July 20.
Yu garnered massive attention from the public for his heroic deeds and was found to be a big fan of Manchester United. The intro of his Sina Weibo account reads "Manchester United is the champion!"
Given Yu's courageous behavior, the hospital later decided to formally hire him.
"I may miss the matches at midnight in the future because of my work the next morning. It would be irresponsible for a doctor to not be energetic for his patients, but I will keep supporting Manchester United and expect to see wonderful matches during the new season," Yu told Xinhua News Agency.