Photo: Screenshot from the Wechat account of the publicity department in Jinping district, Shantou city, South China’s Guangdong Province

A 12-year-old boy from East China’s Anhui Province died from complications of severe scald injuries that caused multi-organ inflammation, acute kidney failure and shock after he was accidentally scalded by boiling water at a restaurant in South China’s Guangdong Province, local authorities announced on Tuesday, ruling out homicide. 

According to a statement released on Tuesday by Tuojiang community in Jinping district, Shantou city, South China’s Guangdong Province, the deceased boy surnamed Zhang from Huaiyuan county in Anhui was a relative of the restaurant owner surnamed Zhou. Zhang had been taken care of by Zhou’s family for a long period. 

On January 2, 2023, Zhang accidentally knocked over a pot while boiling water in the shop to bathe, causing scald injuries to all four limbs. After the incident, Zhou purchased burn ointment for Zhang, but Zhang’s father did not promptly take him to a hospital for further treatment. On the morning of January 10, 2023, Zhou found Zhang lying on the ground in the shop, and emergency medical personnel confirmed his death at the scene.

After the incident, the local police swiftly carried out a series of investigative measures including inquiries and interviews, a site inspection, and a post-mortem examination. They determined that Zhang’s death was caused by a systemic inflammatory response triggered by scald injuries from boiling water, leading to acute kidney failure and shock, and ruled out homicide. 
 
In addition, other marks found on the boy’s body were all minor, old injuries, which investigators concluded were caused by his father’s disciplinary actions. 

Relevant departments in Jinping district have repeatedly organized mediation sessions  between the deceased’s family and Zhou, and the mediation process is still ongoing, according to the statement. 

Global Times