KAFU Student Saves Drowning Child

Second-year student of the Kazakh-American Free University in the Psychology program Yerasyl Omarkhanov saved a child drowning in the Ulba River. On May 13, 2025, an incident occurred in Ust-Kamenogorsk that left neither passers-by nor social media users indifferent.

A five-year-old boy was walking with his sister near the water when he stumbled and ended up in the river. The fast current began to carry the child away. Yerasyl was nearby, instantly got his bearings and threw himself into the water. His determination and calmness helped save the child’s life.

Yerasyl himself does not consider his act heroic:

“Anyone in my place would have done the same,” he says.

The Department of Emergency Situations of the East Kazakhstan region once again calls on parents to be attentive and not to leave children unattended, especially near water.