During the National Day holiday in mainland China, a male passenger climbed from the connecting part of the carriages of train D1884 at the Guilin Railway Station in Guangxi at noon. He was electrocuted while on top of the carriage, causing severe burns and visible flames on his body.
Initially, there were circulating reports on the internet claiming that the man had died. However, an official announcement from the Guilin Railway Station later stated that the man was alive and receiving treatment at the hospital, sparking doubts among the public.
On the first day of the national holiday, at 12:40 noon, a male passenger climbed to the roof of the D1884 train through a gap between carriages. The official announcement from the station mentioned that the man was stunned on the roof and fell to the platform. Medical personnel arrived on the scene at 12:56 pm to provide emergency assistance before transferring him to the hospital for treatment. His condition was reported to be stable with no immediate life-threatening risks.
Nevertheless, the official announcement faced skepticism from the public. Online footage captured the moment when the man was electrocuted on the roof of the train, showing his hands convulsing in the air while his body was burnt black with flames burning simultaneously. From the angle of the video, although his head and upper body were close to one side of the roof, the majority of his body still remained on the curved surface of the roof. Without external forces, it seemed unlikely for the man to fall from the roof to the platform on his own.
Adding to the mystery, approximately two hours before the official announcement by the Guilin Railway Station in the afternoon of the incident day, an online document purportedly from the “Nanning Bureau Group Company Notification” already circulated. It stated that “after the arrival of emergency medical services, it was confirmed that the man showed no signs of life and classified it as a general Class B railway transport accident”, contradicting the subsequent announcement by the station claiming the man was “stable and not in critical condition.”
The conflicting statements regarding the man’s condition raised fundamental questions about his status. Currently, the previous message shared on social media platforms has become inaccessible with a “404” error.
Some informed sources insisted that the man had indeed passed away due to the high-voltage electric shock on the high-speed rail, which operates at 27,500 volts. They pointed out the severe burns on his body as proof, expressing skepticism towards the official narrative.
On social media, many netizens raised doubts about the incident. One user commented, “The man was electrocuted and burned, and when he fell, his head still hit the ground with both arms stretched out.”
Supporting this viewpoint, another netizen ridiculed the official announcement, stating, “In this magical era, common sense seems to have disappeared.”
Furthermore, railway staff members corroborated the claims made by netizens, emphasizing the dangers of the 27,500-volt high voltage present on the electrified railway in China. They highlighted the sacrifices made by railway employees, both in terms of blood and life, to uphold railway safety regulations.
The official notice from Guilin mentioned that “the incident is under further investigation and management. Train D1884 resumed operation at 13:21.”
However, rumors have circulated on mainland Chinese social media platforms, suggesting that the man involved in the accident climbed to the roof in protest for his rights. A overseas account “罗翔——破幕推牆” also referred to him as a “petitioner” on October 1, citing death details that align closely with the aforementioned “Nanning Bureau notification.”
In a similar incident on September 7, a suicide case occurred at Platform 9 of Nanning Railway Station in Guangxi. At 9:35 am, an adult male suddenly jumped onto the tracks, colliding with train C8668 that was slowing down near the station, resulting in fatality. The train resumed operation at 10:56 am.