A shocking incident unfolded in Chaozhou, Guangdong, China, when a drunken father hurled his toddler into a river during an argument with his wife.
A witness captured the terrifying moment in a 51-second video showing the man throwing the infant off a bridge. The mother screamed in horror before jumping into the water to save her child. The father then followed her into the river, while their other young child remained alone on the bridge, crying in fear.
Bystanders quickly rushed to assist the family. One man retrieved a thick log from nearby grass and threw it into the river for them to cling to, while others waded in to help despite strong currents. The combined efforts successfully brought the toddler to shore. Reports indicated the infant’s face had turned purple, and he was unresponsive, choking on river water, prompting rescuers to pat his back to clear the airway.
The mother and father were subsequently pulled from the water. The mother, drenched and shaken, collapsed on the ground holding her child, visibly overwhelmed and angrily confronting the father.
Legal experts said the father’s actions go beyond a loss of emotional control, potentially constituting attempted homicide or intentional injury. They noted that his subsequent jump into the river may be considered in sentencing but does not absolve the act.
