A rain-triggered flood hit Suide County of Yulin, northwest China’s Shaanxi province, on Jul. 26, affecting more than 145,700 locals. A photo of an exhausted 12-year-old boy who helped flood relief work has become a hit online, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Aug. 4.

Dozens of volunteers have devoted themselves to the relief work. One of them is Hu Zhibo, the hero in the photo. The little boy just graduated from primary school and is now the youngest volunteer in Suide’s flood relief efforts.

The popular picture was taken on Aug. 1 by a local who saw the boy sleeping soundly on top of a heap of bottled water with his legs crossed after helping unload 70 bags of flour, Mei Yali, Hu’s mother told the journalist on Aug. 3.

It was his choice to participate in the volunteer relief work. He asked to help when his summer vacation began and also encouraged his mother to join. Hu has worked nonstop for a week since July 28, with almost ten “working hours” each day, Mei added.

“I feel happy to engage in flood relief work. Though it is tiresome, it was worth it when my mom told me that many people gave me a thumb up,” said the 12-year-old boy in an interview with Beijing Youth Daily.