On October 22nd, a netizen posted on social media that on October 21st, in a residential area in Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, a 5-year-old child fell into a septic tank and the grandfather who went in to rescue him unfortunately died. The incident took place in the Tianfu Mingdi residential area in Guangyuan, Sichuan.
Several online videos show that the scene has been cordoned off and rescue personnel are busy at the site, with an ambulance parked nearby.
According to a report by Red Star News, a homeowner in the residential area mentioned that when he returned to the community on the evening of the 21st, the rescue operation was almost over. He saw a funeral home vehicle, and later heard from other residents that a child fell into a septic tank within the community while playing, and the child’s grandfather rescued him but tragically lost his own life.
The homeowner also stated that he heard the septic tank where the incident occurred had undergone construction work previously, and after the work was completed, it was covered with a wooden board, which led to the child falling in while playing.
Relatives of the deceased told Jiupai News, “After the construction work, there was no proper cover for the septic tank, just a wooden board. The child fell in. Then my uncle went in to save him. The septic tank is three meters deep and filled with dry material.”
Community property staff responded saying, “It is suspected that the cover was pried open, or someone moved it. If the cover is intact, even an adult cannot step on it. There is methane gas below, and if you go down, you will suffocate and lose consciousness in about a minute.”
The Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau of Lizhou District in Guangyuan City reported that around 17:50 on October 21st, a 5-year-old boy named Zhang accidentally fell into a septic tank in the green belt area within the community. His 71-year-old grandfather, Zhang, entered the septic tank to rescue him and called for help, but due to exhaustion, he fell inside. By around 19:18 when Zhang was rescued, he showed no signs of life.
The incident has sparked widespread concern online. Homeowners’ comments on social media indicate that there are many safety hazards in the Tianfu Mingdi residential area. They complain, “We have been living in the community for over ten years and didn’t even know there was a septic tank, with no signage or fence around it, just a rotten wooden board covering it, right under a tree in the community.” “It is a mess in our community, there are scattered electric scooters parked everywhere, and no one is managing them, even ambulances can’t access.” “The construction in Tianfu Mingdi residential area is haphazard, with a huge pit in the foundation left unfilled, posing a hazard.”
Other netizens also commented, “Just recently, a 9-year-old child in Hunan fell to his death in a well at a school construction site, this is another tragedy.” “How many similar incidents must happen before action is taken?” “The property management must provide a reasonable explanation, why was there no proper well cover, only a simple wooden board.” “If they can’t even properly cover a well, what about other safety measures?”
Overall, this tragic incident has raised concerns about safety measures and supervision in residential communities, urging authorities to take necessary steps to prevent such accidents in the future.