Gan Yu, in a wheelchair after surgery, leaves West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 8, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

Gan Yu waves goodbye to people seeing him off at West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 8, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

A rescue helicopter designated to transfer Gan Yu to Luding County of Sichuan Province prepares for takeoff in Shimian County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 21, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

Gan Yu is taken care of by his mother Chen Weishu in a surgery ward at West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 26, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
Gan Yu, a heroic hydropower station worker who survived a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Luding County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, was discharged from West China Hospital of Sichuan University on Saturday after receiving treatment there.

On Sept. 5 when the earthquake struck Luding, Gan and his colleague chose not to evacuate but remain at their posts at the hydropower station, saving villages downstream from being flooded. His colleague was rescued on Sept. 8.

The 28-year-old had lived alone for 17 days in the wild before a villager found him on Sept. 21.

Ni Taigao, the villager who found Gan, decided to join the search for Gan because he was familiar with local mountains, according to a video clip posted by the state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).

On the morning of Sept. 21, Ni heard someone yelling for help on a mountain slope and found Gan lying in the woods, CCTV reported.

Gan told Ni that he had survived the ordeal by eating wild fruits and drinking spring water.

Gan suffered from multiple soft tissue injuries, several fractures, and severe infections, said Wu Hong, vice president of the hospital.