WUHAN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- An outpouring of grief has followed news of the death of Bailong, a white horse that played a crucial role in the rescue of a drowning man in central China's Hubei Province earlier this month, with locals and people across the country mourning online and offline.

Despite medical efforts, Bailong, meaning "white dragon," died on Tuesday due to a sudden severe intestinal obstruction, seven days after the heroic rescue, according to Yelibay Dosunbek, Bailong's owner.

On Feb. 4, Yelibay Dosunbek, a 39-year-old Uygur from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, sprang into action on horseback to help a man who was drowning in the frigid Hanjiang River in the city of Xiantao.

Bailong, a 7-year-old mixed breed from Xinjiang, swam nearly 40 meters as Yelibay Dosunbek clung to its back, ultimately dragging the man to shore with the help of local winter swimming enthusiast Liu Hangzhou.

"Bailong carried me to the center of the river. Without him, I couldn't have made it," said Yelibay Dosunbek, who co-owns a local equestrian club in Xiantao.

Following the rescue, the horse showed symptoms like loss of appetite and diarrhea the next day, prompting immediate vet treatment.

On Feb. 6, local authorities granted the title of "righteous and courageous role model group" to Yelibay Dosunbek, Liu, and Su Shaogao -- Yelibay Dosunbek's friend who noticed the emergency and shouted for help. Bailong, whose conditions improved following treatment, was in attendance at the ceremony, donning a red sash.

Later on Feb. 6, the horse was found to be in deteriorating health, experiencing high fever and obstipation. Bailong died on Feb. 11 despite medical treatment.

"Sudden strangulated intestinal obstruction is not a rare emergency in equine animals. Once the disease occurs, the intestines are twisted together, and the mortality rate is very high," said Xiao Siyu, an associate professor at Huazhong Agricultural University who was part of a treatment team organized by the city's bureau of agriculture and rural affairs.

News of Bailong's death has sparked a flood of grief and admiration from locals and netizens nationwide.

Xiantao residents have been seen laying flowers by the Hanjiang River in tribute to the heroic animal. City authorities have also announced plans to erect a statue of the horse by the river, and said that the name of an upcoming local river-crossing event would be changed to the "Bailongma Cup," with Bailongma meaning "white-dragon horse."

"Thank you, brave Bailong, for fearlessly jumping into the water to save a life. May you rest in peace," a netizen posted on the Weibo social media platform under the username "Iron Mirror Princess_79891."

In recognition of Yelibay Dosunbek's heroic rescue, the Xinjiang chamber of commerce in Xiantao has announced that it will donate another white horse to the Uygur man.

"When the weather gets warmer in Xinjiang in late March or early April, a white horse from Yelibay Dosunbek's home of Xinjiang will be delivered to him," said Chen Huibing, president of the chamber, adding that the new horse will be a continuation of Bailong's legacy and a testament to ethnic unity.

Yelibay Dosunbek said that he does not regret rushing into the river. "Had I got another chance, I'd make the same choice to save a life again." Enditem

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