A two-year-old boy died after falling from an 18th-floor apartment in Chongqing on September 13 when his father left him alone for about 12 minutes to walk the dog. Police ruled the death an accident.
Tags:A two-year-old boy has died after falling from the 18th floor of an apartment building in Chongqing, southwest China, after his father reportedly left him alone at home for around 12 minutes while taking the family dog for a walk.
Screenshot from internet
The incident happened on September 13, according to local media outlet Xiaoxiang Morning Herald. The boy’s parents, identified as Liu and Cui, are now dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy. Cui said he feels deeply guilty and is willing to take responsibility for what happened.
The family had spent the morning together at an ocean park. At around 3 p.m., Cui drove his wife to a hotel where she was attending a promotional meeting before returning home with their two-year-old son.
According to Cui, at 3:26 p.m., he placed the child on the living-room sofa to watch cartoons. The boy was holding his favorite blanket. Cui then left the apartment to walk the dog. He said he returned at 3:38 p.m., meaning he had been away for approximately 12 minutes.
When he came back, the child was no longer on the sofa. Cui said he searched the bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen but could not find him. Moments later, he heard people outside shouting that a child had fallen from the building.
Cui rushed to the balcony and looked down, discovering that the child was lying on the ground below. The family’s balcony has a railing more than one meter high. Cui said the apartment had previously been fitted with a simple protective window grille, but it had later been removed. At the time of the accident, the window was reportedly open.
Screenshot from internet
Based on the initial forensic examination, Cui said investigators believed the boy may have climbed onto the edge of a plastic bathing tub placed near the balcony before falling through the window while holding his blanket.
The fall was reportedly broken by a tree branch, but the child suffered fatal internal injuries. No obvious external injuries were seen on his body.
The child’s mother said the room’s surveillance camera was not connected to a power supply, meaning the exact sequence of events could not be reconstructed. She also said her husband had generally been less involved in childcare and that the couple had argued in the days before the incident over housework and parenting responsibilities.
After the accident, police and emergency responders arrived at the scene. Cui said he was taken to the police station for questioning that evening and was later released.
According to the family, police determined that the incident was an accident and did not meet the threshold for a criminal case. The family was informed that civil legal action could be pursued if necessary.
Cui said he did not intentionally leave his son in danger and that surveillance footage and other evidence showed he was away from the apartment when the fall occurred. Nevertheless, he acknowledged his responsibility as a parent.
“I am willing to take responsibility. I feel very guilty,” he said.
The tragedy has also renewed concerns about child safety at home. Tan Zhang, head of the Yuelu Blue Sky Rescue Team, urged parents to keep young children within sight and to identify potential hazards around windows, balconies and stairs.
Screenshot from internet
For children this young, safety measures such as keeping windows closed and installing protective barriers or fall-prevention nets can provide an additional layer of protection. The incident serves as a painful reminder that even a few minutes without direct supervision can have irreversible consequences.
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Editor:Vivi G
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