Excavation firm boss dies from infection after volunteering in flood-hit Hualien

Taipei, Oct. 7 (CNA) The owner of a Taoyuan excavation company who volunteered to help with cleanup efforts in Hualien's flood-hit Guangfu Township died late Monday of complications from an infected wound, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Lin Hung-sen (林鴻森), 48, had traveled to Hualien one day after the Matai'an Creek barrier lake burst its banks amid typhoon rains and inundated Guangfu on Sept. 23, Lin Yi-hua (林奕華), who handled Lin's funeral arrangements, told CNA on Tuesday.

Along with his nephew, Lin hauled two Bobcat skid steer loaders to Guangfu, after flooding left the small village covered with a heavy layer of mud and debris, the funeral director said.

While taking part in the cleanup, Lin suffered a cut on his left leg, but continued working, even as it became increasingly swollen.

After eight days, he finally agreed to call an ambulance and was taken for treatment at Hualien's Mennonite Christian Hospital, Lin Yi-hua said.

At the hospital, Lin was diagnosed with an infected wound, but initially remained in stable condition. On Saturday, however, he was transferred to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, after which he lost consciousness, the funeral director said, citing what he had heard from Lin's family.

Over the weekend, Lin's condition deteriorated, leading to his death on Monday night from multiple organ failure brought on by sepsis, the funeral director said.

As the news of Lin's death became public on Tuesday, several figures in Taiwan's government paid tribute to him, painting him as a representative of the thousands of "shovel heroes" who have volunteered to help clean up Guangfu since the disaster.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of Lin's death, and expressed his condolences to his family.

Chi Lien-cheng (季連成), chief coordinator at the Central Emergency Operation Center, said a deputy health minister will pay a condolence visit to Lin's family later in the day and give them NT$200,000 (US$6,586) in consolation money.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) also plans to attend Lin's funeral, to extend the government's condolences and gratitude, Chi said.