An eight-year-old boy in China was sent to a martial arts club to learn self-defense by his parents but was allegedly beaten to death by the trainer, according to a report by Fox News.
The boy’s parents had enrolled him into the Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club in Qingdao, Shandong for a year’s worth of martial arts training, playing 7,680 yuan (or SGD$1,440) for the lessons.
On June 18, the boy declared dead upon arrival at the Third People’s Hospital in Chenyang district after experiencing distress, and it was later revealed that his heart had stopped approximately 20 minutes before reaching the hospital.
Following the incident, the Chenyang branch of Qingdao’s Public Security Bureau took swift action. They arrested three individuals associated with the club, including the couple in charge and one coach, on June 18.
The arrests were made in connection with an alleged criminal case of intentional harm leading to the boy’s death. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and the club’s operations have been halted.
A video capturing the distressing incident circulated online, shedding light on the alleged abuse suffered by the young boy.
In the video, a man is seen attempting to support the boy, who appears to be feeling faint, on a chair in a classroom setting. However, as soon as the man withdraws his support, the boy falls to the floor. The disturbing footage raised concerns about the safety protocols and supervision within the martial arts club.
The boy’s father, known as Mr. Zhai, shared his account of the incident with China Newsweek. He revealed that the club’s owner had sent them a video of their son around 11 am on June 18. Concerned about the boy’s condition, the mother requested the owner to monitor him closely.
However, at around 1:50 pm, the family received devastating news that their son was not going to make it, shortly before his death was confirmed. The mother blamed the club’s coaches for the delayed treatment and expressed concerns about her son’s bruises and injuries.
According to the boy’s mother, he had visible bruises on several parts of his body, especially on his legs. She criticized the club’s coaches for not promptly seeking medical treatment for her son.
The Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club was registered just over two months prior to the incident, in April.
As a result of the alleged mistreatment of their students and the subsequent investigation, the operations of the Chongde Juying Martial Arts Sports Club have been temporarily halted.