Four-year-old boy in China dies in escalator accident

Boy was playing with an escalator handrail when he fell under it and died

A four-year-old boy died on Thursday morning after getting stuck under an escalator handrail at a subway station in the Chinese city of Chongqing.

According to local rail authorities, a woman left her four-year-old son and three-year-old daughter unsupervised in the ticketing hall of the subway station. The boy was playing with an escalator handrail when he fell under it. His chest was wedged between the bottom of the handrail and the ground.

Read: China escalator swallows toddler's mother

The escalator was switched off by subway station staff after 20 seconds and the boy was extracted from under the handrail. He later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

Chongqing Rail Transport Authority released a statement saying they were investigating the incident but they stressed the need for parental supervision.

"We are deeply regretful and heartbroken over this case! We also would like to remind all passengers to look after their young children and old folks when travelling, be more alert, and avoid similar accidents!" the statement read.

In July, a woman was killed after she plunged through flooring over an escalator in a Chinese department store, thrusting her toddler to safety as she fell to her death.

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

Xiang Liujuan, 30, was holding her son in front of her as they went up the stairway on Saturday, the Wuhan Evening News said.

Security camera 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.

This article originally appeared on BBC