Despite having both of his hands and part of his left leg amputated due to an accident 16 years ago, the security guard at Da Gang Junior High School in Taoyuan County’s Gueishan Township (龜山) has excelled at his job and has won the respect of the schoolchildren.
Hsia Yung-hsiang (夏永相), 44, said that in September 1997, he was playing with a wireless radio and extended the radio’s antenna to 10m high, but accidentally touched a power line while going uphill and was electrocuted.
“The doctors said that both of my forearms had to be amputated, as well as my left calf,” Hsia said, adding that hearing those words had felt like the end of the world to him.
Photo: Chou Hung-min, Taipei Times
Hsia said that if it were not for his mother’s and brother’s encouragement, he would not have had the courage to continue living.
Hsia said he firmly believed that as long as he abided by the law, acted ethically and was not afraid of doing any job — however menial — there was no reason he could not make a living, adding that he was able to earn money selling lottery tickets and using the skills he had learned from attending a computer class.
Hsia became a security guard at the junior-high school in 2008, and despite the relatively low pay — NT$20,000 a month — said that he was satisfied with his lot, adding that he was able to perform all his duties, such as directing traffic, taking telephone calls, typing or writing, and collecting mail.
The students have a high opinion of Hsia, saying he stands up for what is right and stops bullies from picking on other students.
They said that Hsia once stopped a car by himself when the driver did not notice students who were about to cross the street, earning him the name “Da Gang Double Hook Hero.”
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