Police officer Zhang Liqun walks on the crutches. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

A video recording of Zhang Liqun, a police officer from Jiande -- the county level city administered by Hangzhou, capital of China's eastern Zhejiang province -- recently went viral after he was seen directing traffic on crutches, local media reported on July 10.

The 42-year-old police officer fell over and fractured his left ankle in January, when he was working around the clock to help the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic and he was extremely fatigued.

His doctor asked Zhang to rest his leg for half a year but the devoted policeman wouldn't hear of it and he applied to get back to work just two months after surgery.

Zhang was deployed to work in the control center and monitor road conditions.

But, undaunted, if any emergency occurred, Zhang was always first to rush to the scene.

After Jiande entered its flood season a month ago and saw plenty of rainfall, the officer geared up to direct the traffic at the busiest crossings to help prevent any traffic jams.

"Where there's the busiest traffic, is where you'll find officer Zhang," his colleagues commented.

The policeman has also become something of a neighborhood celebrity with residents after the video went viral and he's gotten many compliments for his pluck.

"Are you officer Zhang? I've seen you on the internet and you should take good care of yourself," one local said.

"Officer, you're so good and we're proud of you," another one said.