What happened

A three-year-old girl was alone in a 12th-floor flat in Zhangping, Fujian province, in southeastern China, on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Her father was at work and her mother had gone shopping, believing the child was still asleep, according to local media reports. The girl apparently slipped through the window, her body went outside the protective grille and her head became caught between the metal bars, leaving her dangling above the drop. Reports put the time at around 7:48 to 8:00 in the morning.

How neighbours responded

A female resident who was heading up to the roof to dry a blanket heard the child crying and photographed her, then alerted the building management and security staff. The photos were shared in the residents' group chat, which helped people mobilise quickly. Security guards and property staff entered the flat directly below, on the 11th floor. Two men leaned out of its windows and used a stool to support the girl's body, easing the strain and keeping her from slipping while they waited for help.

Rescue and aftermath

Firefighters arrived and got into the girl's flat by forcing the door. One report says they used an angle grinder to cut through it. Once inside, they freed her from the grille and brought her back into the home. She was then taken to hospital for a medical check, and local media reported that she had no injuries.

Differences in reporting

The accounts agree on the core sequence but differ on some details, including the exact time of the incident and how the door was opened. The sources give no further information on the family or on what happens next.