In the Serengeti Game Reserve in Tanzania, a vast wilderness, there is an old man named Mekond. Mr. Mekond is a former ranger who has been with the Game Reserve for more than 50 years, from his youth to his old age. During that time, he has devoted himself to protecting wild animals from illegal hunting.
People in the Serengeti respect him as a living legend for his perseverance and kindness. Even after retirement, he still volunteers to drive his old car to patrol every day. Young staff in the Game Reserve often come to him for guidance because of his profound knowledge.
The elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and rhinos are all loved and cared for by him. In particular, he pays great attention to the old animals in the safe area where they rest. Despite his declining health, Mr. Mekond has never let the pressure of age stop him.
The weather in the Serengeti has become more severe recently, with temperatures forecast to reach 45 degrees Celsius. Early that morning, the sun was high and shining fiercely across the reserve. The hot air caused many animals to seek shelter under the large trees.
However, Mr. Mekond was determined to make the trip to check on the condition of the rhino that had been injured the day before. He drove to the bushy area where the rhino was recovering. The car slowly rolled on the rough road in the middle of the dry grassland.
The sweltering heat blew into the cabin, causing him to sweat continuously. When he arrived, he stopped the car and got out, trying to observe the rhino from a distance. The rhino still looked weak, a long wound had not yet healed.
Mr. Mekond gently approached to check on its condition. His eyes were filled with worry and love for this large but vulnerable creature. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.
The pain spread, making him dizzy and unable to react. He fell to his knees in the grass, sweat pouring out and his face pale. His two colleagues, Elijah and Musa, were taking care of the zebras nearby when they heard a faint call.
They rushed over and saw Mr. Mekond collapsed on the ground. Elijah bent down to check his pulse, realizing that his heart was beating erratically. Musa searched for his heart medication in his pocket, but couldn’t find it.
Perhaps in his haste, the old man had forgotten to bring his medication today. The situation was so dire, Elijah immediately called the center via radio to request an ambulance. All the surrounding work had to stop, everyone joined forces to support.
The special vehicle quickly rushed over, taking Mr. Mekond to the medical room of the reserve. On the way, Elijah kept calling his name, hoping he would hold on. But his old eyes gradually closed, his breathing was intermittent.
Arriving at the medical room, the doctors immediately performed emergency treatment. They tried to perform artificial respiration and used a defibrillator. The tense atmosphere covered the small room.
After more than 15 minutes, a doctor slowly announced that his heart had stopped beating a long time ago. The eerie silence spread, everyone was shocked. The confirmation that he could not be saved rang out in sorrow, ending a glorious life.