Li Wenliang, the Chinese whistleblower doctor in Wuhan who died on February 6, 2020. Li Wenliang

The death of Chinese whistleblower Li Wenliang after he became infected with the novel coronavirus has sparked an unprecedented outpouring of grief and anger toward the government in China. On social media, mourners have posted portraits and artwork of Li, vowing not to forget him.

But one of the reasons his death was met with such deep emotion from the public was because he was just an ordinary person they could relate to. He hadn't set out to be a hero from the beginning -- he was simply trying to protect his friends.

He first warned about the disease in a group chat with fellow medical school classmates and alumni -- messages that were screen-captured and then went viral.

"I only wanted to remind my university classmates to be careful," he told CNN earlier this week.

Li hadn't wanted to become a public figure -- he was first interviewed anonymously by the China Youth Daily newspaper, and initially refused to speak with foreign media.

But as the outbreak spread and its severity became clear, he spoke more publicly, eventually posting about his experience on social media.

A relatable figure: On Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, Li posted trivial things about himself.

He was a foodie who sometimes craved ice cream and fried chicken. He was a fanboy of certain celebrities, watched popular TV series, and sometimes complained about work, as you do on social media.

In other words, he was an ordinary, relatable figure. People who flocked to his social media profile resonated with him and his tragedy, and came away with the sense: He's one of us.