Wind beneath her wings

The physical test for aspiring rescue pilots is stricter. "Failure means disqualification from the whole program," she adds.

Wan nevertheless decided to give it a try. She was thrilled when she finally cleared all the hurdles and was sent to Adelaide, Australia, to train for 15 months, at the end of which she acquired a commercial pilot's license. Back in the country, she received further training in helicopter search and rescue.

In 2010, she was among China's first batch of female rescue pilots, and then went on to become a chief captain four years later. In the past 13 years, Wan has saved at least 200 lives in more than 300 risky missions.

"Rescue at sea can be both challenging and terrifying. It is never a level playing field with nature. You have to keep your wits about you. If you don't think and act fast, people may die. It is a huge responsibility. Experience builds confidence," she says.

In early 2020 right after the COVID-19 pandemic, Wan's team was tasked with rescuing a crew member suspected of being infected by coronavirus. The disease was still shrouded in mystery and people everywhere were panicking.

But not Wan. She didn't flinch from accepting the mission. "We are trained to be selfless. When duty calls, we respond. It is like a conditioned reflex," she says.

If courage is her middle name, excellent tactical skills give her the edge. Survivors of vessel accidents will vouch for her abilities.

On Aug 20, 2020, an oil tanker ferrying 3,000 metric tons of gasoline collided with a cargo ship loaded with sand and gravel about 1.5 nautical miles (2,778 meters) southeast of the Yangtze River estuary, sparking a fire on the deck of the oil tanker and causing the latter to sink.

Wan was among the first responders. She flew to the site from Gaodong helicopter airport, which is the country's first-of-its-kind marine rescue launchpad. "The tanker was still burning and there was a thick envelope of smoke, reducing visibility to near zero," she recalls.

And yet, with her sea savvy, Wan spotted a survivor and executed a successful rescue operation. She hovered above the troubled waters for a couple of minutes to gauge the best extraction point, and then threw down a rope and pulled up a grievously injured crew member.

The incredible rescue won Wan a special commendation from the Donghai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport.