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EgyptAbdelgawad was hailed as a “hero” as he diligently directed the bulldozer to collect a giant block of sand to prevent Ever Given from being trapped.
The image of a small excavator driven by Abdallah Abdelgawad collecting mud and sand under the super ship Ever Given, ran aground on March 23 and blocked the Suez Canal, became raw material for photography and was shared millions of times on social platforms .
Abdelgawad earns $ 190 a month working as a bulldozer. However, now he becomes a hero to his family and Egypt while fulfilling the almost impossible mission that he can pay with his life if something goes wrong.
At 7:00 am on March 23 (12 o’clock Hanoi time), Abdelgawad entered the work shift on the Suez Canal as usual, but all the doors to the workplace were closed and no one could enter. “I asked a soldier and he said there was a ship blocking the canal,” said the 26-year-old bulldozer driver.
Excavators operated by Abdallah Abdelgawad dug up mud and sand around the bow of the Ever Given ship on March 23. Image: Facebook / Abdallah Abdelgawad.
Abdelgawad and his colleagues returned to the workers’ accommodation in al-Arbain, about a 30-minute drive from the workplace. An hour later, his manager called Abdelgawad and asked him to hurry to the east bank of the Suez Canal. A Suez Canal Authority (SCA) car waited outside the gate.
“I told my manager that I had been denied entry to the work area before because a ship was blocking the canal. The manager said he would go to work on the ship,” Abdelgawad said. “We arrived at the place where the excavator was transferred to the truck to bring it as close as possible to the bow of the train. We walked 1.5 kilometers, my heart began to pound.”
“The SCA engineers explained the situation. But with 8 years of experience working in the canal, I realized that the bow was stuck in the mud and sand below and I had to dig deep on both sides to free it,” he said. Abdelgawad.
According to the rescue plan, the excavator would have to dig up to 15m deep to free the bow of the Ever Given, while the dredgers suck up sediment from below to float the ship. When you start floating again, the tug will try to get you out of the stuck position.
Only Abdelgawad dug some mud under the giant ship. He worked non-stop until the afternoon of March 24, when someone else came to replace him. For 5 days, Abdelgawad only had 3-4 hours free a day, when groups of local and international experts tried to free Ever Given and open the most important sea route in the world.
Abdelgawad poses in front of an excavator. Image: Facebook / Abdallah Abdelgawad.
“When I got into the excavator and looked up, I saw the ship as a tall building. I started the engine, heard my heartbeat as I began to control the bucket. Everyone around me was concerned about the immediate position. It is dangerous below from the ship, “Abdelgawad said.
The bow of the Ever Given jammed on the east bank of the Suez Canal and the stern came to rest against the west bank, an incident unprecedented in the 150-year history of the canal.
“Of course I’m afraid, but it’s not fear that makes me back down. What I think is that my father only has me as a child, and the other two sisters. If something bad happens, gia. My family will. suffer, “said Abdelgawad.
“Mud and sand not only broke into patches on the surface, but also underneath. If this giant ship were to tilt to a certain extent, it would crush me and the bulldozer. I wouldn’t even see it and there’s no chance of escape.” Abdelgawad said. “I told myself that this was my duty, to feel like nothing less than a soldier in battle.”
Fear filled the Abdelgawad family, and they kept calling the bulldozer driver every day to make sure he was still. On social media, the image of the only bulldozer that rescued the Ever Given ship became an inspiration for many people to scoff at.
“They posted things like ‘ants and elephants’ on social media to make fun of the bulldozer and me. At first I felt very sad, but I forgot all of that when the ship was finally released,” Abdelgawad said. “On March 29, my whole body was exhausted from fatigue. But the ship was finally released and we captured the moment it moved.”
“I posted that video on my Facebook page and wrote that this achievement was made possible by the crucial role of the tiny bulldozer that I drove. I felt like I had won a war,” Abdelgawad said.
Race with the supermoon unleashes the Suez Canal. Video: Reuters.
Abdelgawad is greeted like a hero when he returns to the small town of Danjwan, located on the outskirts of Shirbin city in Daqhaliyah province. Villagers screamed when they met Abdelgawad and celebrated.
“I know I have done something great for the country. When people come together, I feel proud. Dad said to me ‘I am proud of you.’ My phone rings.” I constantly wanted to sleep but couldn’t, “said Abdelgawad.” My life changed after those photos. “
Although the mocking photos made Abdelgawad famous, he still reminded those who laughed at him “do not make fun of the weak or belittle them.”
“The little bulldozer played an important role in moving the ship 500 times its size. I am incredibly proud of what I have done. I hope you are all proud of me too,” said Abdelgawad.
Nguyen tien (According to the National News)
