A Chinese firefighter suffered severe brain damage after giving his gas mask to a little girl trapped during a residential fire in Hebei province earlier this year. Heroic sacrifice: Back in March, 30-year-old Ku Xuehui faced a life-altering choice during a rescue mission while battling a residential fire triggered by an exploded electric vehicle. Ku’s wife, Sun Lei, shared they decided to visit a doctor after Ku started struggling with articulation, movement and cognitive function.