World canoeing champion Chinese Xu Yaping, also an instructor of International Rescue Instructors Alliance, wears life jacket during the the flood relief action in Linhai county, East China's Zhejiang Province. Photo: Screenshot of a video by Knews

 World canoeing champion Xu Yaping and four volunteers helped 30 people to safety who were trapped by a fast moving floodwaters after Typhoon Lekima swept through East China.

Typhoon Lekima pelted the city of Linhai, Zhejiang Province with heavy rains since Friday, causing streets to flood and sending rescuers out in motor boats to search for trapped residents. 

Local authorities said on Sunday that 32 people have died and 16 remain missing after the typhoon ravaged the province on Saturday, 

Xu, who is also an instructor with the International Rescue Instructors Alliance, and her partners didn't sleep for 30 hours and helped more than 30 citizens to safety including an elderly woman in her 70s, the Knews report said.

A video posted by Knews on Monday shows that the rescue team in a motorized dinghy speeding along city streets and then pulling their boat through shallower waters. They are seen bringing a girl to safety.

While the video focused on Xu's effort and fame as a world champion, many netizens sent messages to all those who helped in the rescue effort. "Everyone involved in the disaster relief is great. World champions, fire brigades and ordinary people," wrote a netizen who received more than 150 thumbs up by Tuesday afternoon.  

Typhoon Lekima has claimed at least 45 lives and affected 8.9 million people in East China.