Netherlands: Turkish barber saves man who fell in canal

VLAARDINGEN, Netherlands

A barber of Turkish origin this weekend saved a person whose car went into a canal in the southern Netherlands.

While working in his barbershop in the city of Vlaardingen on Friday, Haci Altintas, originally from Turkey’s central Kirsehir province, jumped in the water in front of the barbershop to save a 79-year-old Dutchman whose car went into the water.

"I was like seeing my own grandfather in the car," Altintas told Anadolu Agency.

Local media hailed Altintas, 25, as a "hero."

"I saw people there filming with their cellphones instead of saving the person. With no hesitation, I emptied my pocket and jumped into the water to save the man," he said.

He also said that the Dutchman came to the barbershop the next day to thank him.

Altintas said he was proud of jumping into the canal to save a person’s life.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev