A bizarre case occurred in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, China. While playing in his residential community, a young boy was suddenly struck on the head by a turtle that fell from the sky. The boy sustained severe injuries and was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. The boy's parents, outraged by the tragedy, filed a lawsuit. The outcome for the turtle's owner, surnamed Zhang, has now been revealed.
According to a report by Red Star News, the incident happened at the end of 2024. The Zhao couple took their son to play in the community when, unexpectedly, a turtle flew from an unknown location and hit the boy's head, causing heavy bleeding on the spot. The parents immediately rushed their son to the hospital for emergency treatment, but despite their efforts, the injuries proved fatal.
Investigation revealed that the turtle belonged to a resident of the community surnamed Zhang. It is suspected that poor management of the turtle's high-altitude enclosure caused it to fall, tragically striking the boy. The Zhao couple, Zhang the owner, the property management company, and its liability insurance company entered into compensation negotiations but failed to reach an agreement.
Seeking justice for their son, the Zhao couple filed a lawsuit at the People's Court of Wujiang District, Shaoguan City, demanding joint compensation of 1.3 million RMB from the responsible parties. The court cited Article 1245 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, which holds animal owners liable for damages caused by their animals unless it can be proven that the victim was at fault through intentional or gross negligence. In this case, as the turtle's owner and keeper, Mr. Zhang was held responsible for the boy's death.
Regarding the property management company, under Article 1254 of the Civil Code, liability could be pursued if it was proven they failed in their duty to ensure safety. However, the Zhao couple could not provide evidence of negligence by the property management, so the court did not support their compensation claims against the company or its insurer.
Ultimately, the first-instance court ruled that Mr. Zhang must compensate the Zhao couple 1.28 million RMB. Dissatisfied with the verdict, he appealed. After judicial mediation, Mr. Zhang agreed to fulfill the compensation obligation in installments following a 30-day grace period.
The case sparked widespread online debate, with many netizens deeming the punishment too lenient. Comments included: "It's heartbreaking! A child was killed by a turtle falling from the sky! The effort and love invested in raising a child cannot be measured by just over a million yuan," "Some people keep cats and dogs without securing balconies, showing no sense of responsibility. When accidents happen, it harms everyone," "A life was lost, how can it be settled with just compensation?" and "A human life was crushed, and 1.28 million yuan in installments is the end? No severe punishment?"
