6-year old from Mizoram goes viral after 'accident'

Derek C Lalchhanhima: All he wanted to do was save a life. Image Credit: Social media

6-year old from Mizoram goes viral after 'accident'

He had accidentally run-over a neighbour's chick when riding his bicycle

An accidental run-over, a life at risk and a hero - classic elements of a great story. In this case, however, the hero is not 6-foot tall or barrel chested. This hero is 6-year old Derek C Lalchhanhima, a young boy from Sairang, Mizoram in India.

On April 2, a Facebook user Sanga Says posted an image featuring a young boy, who we now know is Derek, holding money in one hand and a chick in the other. The 6-year old looked visibly upset in the photo, and turns out for good reason. He had accidentally run-over a neighbour's chick when riding his bicycle. What he did next makes this the cutest story of empathy and kindness.

Derek ran home, begged his parents to help and on getting their permission, grabbed up INR 10 (50 fils) and ran to a nearby hospital, chick in hand, to save its life.

Reportedly, Derek's dad told Sanga that his son hadn't realised that the chick was already dead. After the first hospital visit turned futile, the parents had to break it to him that it was too late. The now viral image was clicked by a nurse at the hospital on Derek's first run, according to reports. The FB post now has more than 130,000 likes, 89,000 shares and 11,000 comments at the time of writing.

A second image

Though the chick died, Derek was rewarded for his kindness and courage at school.


Sanga posted a second image on Thursday - with a smiling Derek draped in a shawl and holding up a certificate.

In his post, Sanga explains the significance of the shawl, "Derek C Lalchhanhima (age 6) is being honoured by his school and he is draped in a shawl which is a traditional way of honouring someone among Mizos. In Mizo tradition different types of shawls are usually presented to esteemed guests and in olden days, to pasalțha (braves or warriors) who have accomplished great feats."

"The shawl that is draped on him looks like a modified version of the "Tawlhloh Puan", an honour given to those who have exemplified extraordinary courage", he added.