Boy Seriously Injured by Roadside Rope in China, Suspect 'Under Criminal Measures'

A 13-year-old boy in central China is in stable condition after suffering severe neck injuries when a rope strung across a rural road caught his throat while he was riding an electric bicycle, authorities said today.

The incident, which has sparked widespread public concern, occurred around noon on April 4 in Baixiang Township, Qinyang City, Henan Province. According to local officials, the rope had been tied across the road by a 62-year-old woman to block access while corn was being processed nearby.

Huang Xinyu was knocked to the ground and initially unable to call for help. He managed to make his way home before being rushed to a local clinic and later transferred to higher-level hospitals as his condition deteriorated.

Doctors diagnosed him with a severed trachea, severe neck trauma and internal bleeding in the lungs. Emergency surgery was performed to reconnect his airway, though part of the trachea could not be located, requiring further operations.

On April 12, Huang was transferred to Beijing Children's Hospital, where he is being treated in intensive care. Authorities said his vital signs are now stable. A multidisciplinary team has been assembled to develop a follow-up treatment plan.

More than 700,000 yuan (US$96,000) has been raised through online and offline donations to support his treatment.

Police have opened a criminal investigation and taken coercive measures against the suspect. The case remains under further investigation.

Under China’s road traffic safety laws, individuals are prohibited from occupying roads for non-traffic purposes without authorization. Legal experts say that if the boy’s injuries are classified as serious, the person responsible could face criminal liability for negligence.