Cover image via 
A group of men selflessly jumped into a river to rescue residents trying to cross the waters to escape the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights on Tuesday, 1 April
According to Sinar Harian, Ahmad Syawal Hassan, 39, a resident of Kampung Sri Aman, noticed the children and their families struggling to cross the river around 8.15am.
"I heard faint cries for help; they were trying to cross the river because the heat from the fire was unbearable.
"I was really shocked by the situation. I saw them all struggling, as if they were about to drown. I immediately went down to the riverbank before calling more residents here to help," he said.
Ahmad Syawal Hassan (left) and Amir Nawab (third from right) said they helped about 10 to 20 people cross the river to safety.
Image via New Straits Times
Without hesitation, he said several people, including five Pakistani men, jumped into the river to assist with the rescue
Syawal said they helped about 10 to 20 people cross the river to safety, and also noticed that many had suffered burn injuries.
"It was an unforgettable situation. The sound of the fire was so loud that their cries for help could barely be heard," he added.
A general view of the massive fire that erupted in Putra Heights on Tuesday.
Image via Eizairi Shamsudin/New Straits Times
One of the Pakistani men, Amir Nawab, 48, said he and his friends acted immediately upon seeing the families struggling against the river's strong current
"We saw them shouting for help. We pulled them out while others carried the children to safety. Our only intention was to help. When we see people in trouble, we want to help," he said.
Meanwhile, another rescuer, Jaaffar Ali, 48, said he did not think twice about his own safety, focusing solely on saving the people in distress.
"I just jumped in without thinking. What mattered was getting them to safety. Alhamdulillah, we were able to help. We all helped together," he said.
Their courageous actions have since been widely praised on social media.
