Sun, January 29, 2012
BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A young boy died after getting stuck in an escalator at a shopping mall in Beijing, a publicity official from the city's Xicheng district confirmed on Sunday.
The accident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. at the Xinyidai (or New Generation) Department Store in Beijing's Xidan shopping center.
The boy's name was not released, and the publicity official said he was nine years old.
An initial probe into the accident showed that the boy, who was taking the escalator alone, stretched his neck out and was stuck between the moving escalator and the floor. The boy died instantly.
It is not immediately clear why the boy was allowed to take the escalator without being escorted by an adult. A further investigation is under way.
