Then a mother in her 30s lifted her 2-year-old girl over a fence outside the balcony, and a rescuer on the boat took her in his arms.

The baby cried and called out for her mommy.

"It's all right baby. Your mommy is coming," the rescuer said gently. He was from Tianjin Bluesky Rescue Team. He was thin and dressed in a black driving suit, which was soaked.

After the baby, her mother and father, her grandmother and another couple were taken over the fence to the boat.

Altogether, 10 people were in the small boat — two rescuers at the bow and one at the stern. I was in the middle as we started to go back.