Chinese Shop Owner Paid Settlement After Helping Elderly Man Who Died
A shop owner in central China’s Hunan Province who tried to assist a collapsing customer was later targeted by the man’s family for financial compensation, according to local media reports and official accounts. Xiao Aihua, who operates a card parlor in Qidong County, Hengyang City, was ultimately found blameless by local authorities but agreed to a financial settlement after facing demands and threats from the deceased man’s relatives.
The Fatal Fall at a Qidong Card Parlor
The incident began on August 17, when an elderly man entered the card parlor and sat on a chair near the entrance, according to an account provided by Xiao’s son, surnamed Li, to Jiupai News. Within a minute, the man appeared unwell, though the shop owner had not interacted with him. After about five minutes, Xiao noticed his eyes were closing and he was slumping from his chair, her husband told Mengmao News. When she reached out to steady him, she was pulled down as he fell. Someone at the scene suggested moving him outside for fresh air, prompting Xiao to help carry him out while bystanders called an ambulance.
Hospital Run and Unofficial Cause of Death
According to the owner’s husband, the ambulance arrived in about five minutes. The man still had vital signs but was unresponsive, and he had stopped breathing by the time he reached the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. During resuscitation attempts, the man’s wife called relatives and stated that he suffered from diabetes and multiple other chronic illnesses, Li’s mother said. Authorities have not released an official cause of death.
Following the death, the man’s relatives visited the shop and argued that because the man collapsed on the premises and the owner physically intervened, she bore responsibility, Li said. According to the family’s account, relatives claimed the man might have survived if left untouched in the chair, and initially demanded 100,000 yuan, alongside threats to leave the body outside the shop.
Police Mediation and Health Toll on the Owner
The Qidong County Justice Bureau launched an investigation, and the dispute was mediated twice at a local police station, according to Beijing News. Police confirmed that mediation concluded with both sides agreeing to a payment of 19,000 yuan, which was transferred, while noting that either party retained the right to pursue a civil lawsuit. Li stated that the ordeal caused his mother severe stress, including insomnia, dizziness, and a loss of appetite, leading his father to accept the payment out of concern for her health. The shop has remained closed, and the family has yet to decide whether to resume operations.
Legal Experts Point to No Fault Under Civil Code
Legal experts noted that under China’s Civil Code, tort liability requires proof of fault. Zhang Jianqi, a lawyer at Zhejiang Wulian Law Firm, told Qianjiang Video that there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Xiao, no indication that shop conditions caused the fall, and no legal grounds for requiring her to pay compensation.
Reimbursements and Community Support Arrive
On August 23, local authorities offered to reimburse the family for the 19,000-yuan settlement. Separately, Gong Shengli, general manager of Qidong County Jintai Rice Industry Co. Ltd., visited Xiao and delivered 20,000 yuan in financial support, as detailed in a post by the official “Hengyang Release” social media account.