Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Exploding manhole sends five-year-old boy flying into the air

Firecracker + manhole cover = don't do it

Kiran Moodley
Monday 16 February 2015 08:21 EST
Comments
(ITN)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

This is the moment a young boy in China was sent flying two metres into the air - a clear warning to anyone who thinks throwing a lit firecracker into a sewer is a wise idea.

CCTV shows a young boy on roller skates in a park with two other children and a man. Local news reports in China's Henan Province suggest the boy was five years old and the older man was his uncle.

The five-year-old can be seen placing two lit firecrackers into the manhole underneath him, as his uncle and the two other children look on.

Suddenly, the manhole cover explodes upwards, sending the young boy flying into the air, landing back on the pavement head first. His uncle and the two children appear unhurt, with the uncle helping the five-year-old to his feet shortly after the explosion.

Security staff member Bao Yiming said that three manholes were blown out of position in the event, describing it as a "very serious explosion". The trio of manholes were launched over three metres into the air.

"The boy lay down there, he stood up after a few minutes," Yiming said. "His leg had a flesh wound and he had a little bruise on the right-side of his face."

The manhole covers have since been repaired, according to management staff in the community.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in