Chinese man's lower leg amputated after getting stuck in escalator

Third escalator-related incident in China this past week resulting in a serious injury or fatality


Web Desk August 03, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

A man has had his lower leg amputated after getting trapped in an escalator in a Shanghai mall, making it the third serious escalator-related incident in China in a week.

According to reports, the 35-year-old man named Zhang was a cleaner at the Cloud Nine shopping mall in Shanghai.

Video surveillance footage shows the man placing a cloth near the top of the escalator and as he steps on it to clean the escalator equipment, one of the metal floor panels gave way and trapped his lower leg.

The man was eventually rescued when firefighters were notified of the incident and he was taken to hospital, where his leg was amputated from the calf down.

"The doctor said in order to prevent (the) situation from getting worse, they amputated his left calf," a member of the victim’s family said.

Read: China escalator swallows toddler's mother

Although initial reports revealed that the victim violated operation regulations by not turning the escalator off before cleaning it, investigation into the incident is under way.

Last week, a woman was killed in Beijing after she fell through the flooring of an escalator in a department store, before thrusting her toddler to safety.

Security footage of the incident posted online showed a panel in the floor giving way as Xiang stepped off the escalator. As she fell half-way through she pushed her son forward, and a nearby shop assistant dragged him to safety.

Two days prior to that, a toddler's left hand and arm were caught in a gap of an escalator after he tripped and fell at the bottom, firefighters told local media. He suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured arm, and was hospitalised.

This article originally appeared on CNN

COMMENTS (2)

Uzair | 8 years ago | Reply I have my reservations about Chinese items that are not "made in China" Western company products. Specifically about the paints used and if they contain lead, and if the plastics are free from BPA and pthalates. How can we be sure that the cheap Chinese toys for example don't have lead in their paint or the plastic will cause hormonal problems to young children.
Sun Tzu | 8 years ago | Reply I am willing to bet the escalator wasn't OTIS, Kone or Schindler, etc.. Chinese toys, shirts, bags, etc are fine. But for equipment that may cause injury/death better stick to Western Brands.
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