Rescuers back the couple out of the flood. Photo: screenshot of the video posted by Pear Video

 An elderly man in Northeast China had to be rescued from flood waters a second time after he returned home to feed his pigs. 

On Saturday, the man, surnamed Wu who farms with his wife in the village of Jixi, Heilongjiang Province, had been taken to a temporary shelter by rescue workers to wait for the flood to recede.

The couple became worried about their pigs and returned to their home to feed them when the flood receded during the night, according to a statement by the local government.

Flood waters rose again the next day, once again trapping them in their house. Fortunately, a rescue team in a boat found them and after four hours of effort the rescuers again took them to safety.

The couple profusely thanked their rescuers in the video. 

Because they defied the government's evacuation orders, the husband was detained for three days.

Seven other local farmers were also criticized for contravening the evacuation order and returning home before the flood had ended.