Bus driver Wu Bin, 48, was pierced by a piece of flying metal debris while on duty. With great resolve and in great pain he held on, steering the bus and the passengers to safety before collapsing.

After the incident on Tuesday, May 29, the bus driver from Jiangsu province succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Friday. He suffered liver rupture and multiple rib fractures.

The piece of metal debris weighed 2.5kg and was 30cm long. Industry professionals say it might be part of a drum brake from a vehicle on the other side of the road. Wu's vehicle had been travelling at 94km per hour when the flying debris smashed the bus' windscreen and pierced Wu.

For his heroic act and show of immense responsibility despite his pain, Wu was recognised as a role model and hero by local authorities. He worked for the Hangzhou Long-distance Transport Group and had clocked over one million km in the past decade without a single accident or complaint by passengers.

Upon hearing of his death, Wu's family, friends and passengers saved by him turned up at his home in Hangzhou to mourn the hero. Wu and his wife, Wang Lizhen, had been married for 18 years and were planning to buy a pair of rings.

Said STOMPer Tan:

"It's so sad that such a freak accident happened to such a good driver.

"Indeed it's rare to find such responsible and brave drivers in the world, but I guess there was nothing else to do other than to drive safely so he could also give not just his passengers but himself a chance, should he survive the metal shard.

"It's a sad incident, and he was recognised as a hero. If he had been knocked unconscious then how?

"Regardless, my heart goes out to him and may he rest in peace."